|
Post by ppyenews on Apr 23, 2006 13:11:17 GMT -5
Re: Radio Talkback Topic on Line 3 and www.radiotalkback.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is my 'Talkback Topic' copy for Monday 24th April 2006 Welcome to Talkback Topic - I'm Phillip Pye. Tomorrow, April 25th is ANZAC Day. It is a day when many Ex-serviceman, present day servicemen, Adults and Children get out of bed very early and endure the cold and attend a 'Dawn Service'. After that, many join in on the traditional ANZAC Day March and then many head for the RSL Clubs for Two Up, Tales, and Hot Toddies. It is not only the Ex-servicemen who partake in the latter, it is open to anyone 18 years or over and the attendance of those younger appears to be increasing every year. Is that how we remember them?, a day to gamble and drink, is that what they would have wanted?, maybe, maybe not. The true Anzac's are almost all gone, passed on, but their legacy has continued. To be truthful, it is a time that many of the old Diggers would have rather forgotten but the bleak reminder of death as they saw it, fails to leave the conscience of the soul. There are factual stories of how many were given 5 bullets and told to kill 4 enemy and keep the last one for themselves. How many actually used that last bullet on themselves is a memory that only they who were there would remember. The gruesome reminders of a War that they hoped would never happen again, but it did, still does, and sadly, still will. The significance of ANZAC Day relates to the 25th April 1915 when Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula. It was the start of a campaign that was to last eight months. The casualties were enormous throughout the campaign - Turks 86,692, British 21,255, French 9,798, Australians 8,709, New Zealanders 2,701 and New Foundland 49. Apart from Memorials at Anzac Cove almost every town and city in Australia and New Zealand has erected a Memorial to those who fought and gave their lives. Australian Troops landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula at Ari Burnu before dawn on April 25th 1915. The aim of the first 1500 troops was to seize the beach and secure the high ground of the third (or Gun) ridge. Control of this ground was vital for success. Later landings of a further 2500 troops would then be able to push their way inland towards the Forts of Dardanelles. Finally the remaining 21,000 Anzac's would be sent ashore to move inland under the protection of the first 4000. The first wave of Troops took the beach, but they failed to secure the higher ridges overlooking the area. This meant that the following Troops were unable to advance. The area where the Troops landed was rugged with steep cliffs and criss-crossing gullies which gave the Turkish Snipers a great advantage resulting in ANZAC Troops losing contact with each other and failing to reach objectives. The whole mission was a failure but a retreat was not ordered and the battle continued for a further 7 months. By nightfall of that fateful day of April 25th, commanders realised that their mission was unsuccessful so they gave the orders, dig, dig, dig. The rest is History. This year the Sydney ANZAC March will be headed by a New Zealand Maori - Edison Te Kanae Wineera who fought during WWII with the 28th Maori Battalion. Stories abound with tales of enemy fear at the sound and sight of the Haka. One wonders also, how many Indigenous Australians fought during WWI, often referred to as 'The Great War'. Whatever, it created a Kinship between Australians and New Zealanders that will, irrespective of anything, always remain. Tomorrow, when the Sun rises in the East, until it sets in the West, Please Remember Them. I'm Phillip Pye -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God Grant me the Serenity To accept the things I cannot Change Courage to change the things I can And Wisdom to know the difference.
|
|
|
Post by ned on Apr 24, 2006 15:45:51 GMT -5
Re: Radio Talkback Topic on Line 3 and www.radiotalkback.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is my 'Talkback Topic' copy for Monday 24th April 2006 Welcome to Talkback Topic - I'm Phillip Pye. Tomorrow, April 25th is ANZAC Day. It is a day when many Ex-serviceman, present day servicemen, Adults and Children get out of bed very early and endure the cold and attend a 'Dawn Service'. After that, many join in on the traditional ANZAC Day March and then many head for the RSL Clubs for Two Up, Tales, and Hot Toddies. It is not only the Ex-servicemen who partake in the latter, it is open to anyone 18 years or over and the attendance of those younger appears to be increasing every year. Is that how we remember them?, a day to gamble and drink, is that what they would have wanted?, maybe, maybe not. The true Anzac's are almost all gone, passed on, but their legacy has continued. To be truthful, it is a time that many of the old Diggers would have rather forgotten but the bleak reminder of death as they saw it, fails to leave the conscience of the soul. There are factual stories of how many were given 5 bullets and told to kill 4 enemy and keep the last one for themselves. How many actually used that last bullet on themselves is a memory that only they who were there would remember. The gruesome reminders of a War that they hoped would never happen again, but it did, still does, and sadly, still will. The significance of ANZAC Day relates to the 25th April 1915 when Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula. It was the start of a campaign that was to last eight months. The casualties were enormous throughout the campaign - Turks 86,692, British 21,255, French 9,798, Australians 8,709, New Zealanders 2,701 and New Foundland 49. Apart from Memorials at Anzac Cove almost every town and city in Australia and New Zealand has erected a Memorial to those who fought and gave their lives. Australian Troops landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula at Ari Burnu before dawn on April 25th 1915. The aim of the first 1500 troops was to seize the beach and secure the high ground of the third (or Gun) ridge. Control of this ground was vital for success. Later landings of a further 2500 troops would then be able to push their way inland towards the Forts of Dardanelles. Finally the remaining 21,000 Anzac's would be sent ashore to move inland under the protection of the first 4000. The first wave of Troops took the beach, but they failed to secure the higher ridges overlooking the area. This meant that the following Troops were unable to advance. The area where the Troops landed was rugged with steep cliffs and criss-crossing gullies which gave the Turkish Snipers a great advantage resulting in ANZAC Troops losing contact with each other and failing to reach objectives. The whole mission was a failure but a retreat was not ordered and the battle continued for a further 7 months. By nightfall of that fateful day of April 25th, commanders realised that their mission was unsuccessful so they gave the orders, dig, dig, dig. The rest is History. This year the Sydney ANZAC March will be headed by a New Zealand Maori - Edison Te Kanae Wineera who fought during WWII with the 28th Maori Battalion. Stories abound with tales of enemy fear at the sound and sight of the Haka. One wonders also, how many Indigenous Australians fought during WWI, often referred to as 'The Great War'. Whatever, it created a Kinship between Australians and New Zealanders that will, irrespective of anything, always remain. Tomorrow, when the Sun rises in the East, until it sets in the West, Please Remember Them. I'm Phillip Pye -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God Grant me the Serenity To accept the things I cannot Change Courage to change the things I can And Wisdom to know the difference. ----------------------------------------------------------------- There is something that always kind of gets me about ANZAC Day, though, and just how uniquely it expresses what it is to be a *good* Australian. For a start, it does not celebrate any kind of military victory. We (contrary to popular belief) do have some of those; in fact, by virtue of the fact that we stick to the winning side in the bigger events, we rarely lose. What it very specifically acknowleges is the sheer ugliness of war, and the exceptional beauty of bravery. We talk about Gallipoli, our most remembered military event, in which we were utterly slaughtered. A series of tragic errors (like happened again at say, Lone Pine, Rorke's Drift etc) sent the first Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ie, ANZAC, singular, that guy over there in the hat, ANZACs, those blokes over there dying horribly) to fight in World War I, mostly cavalry, to a sheer cliff on the Dardanelles. Most of the forces there were actually British and French, but this was an event that has forever shaped the Australian view of war. Now out of the middle of this utter debacle, where guys in trenches routinely died screaming of disease, starvation, or sheer madness, and where half of the fellows there had lied about their age and were in fact about 14, there comes the story of Simpson and his donkey. Simpson would leave his gun behind, get this donkey (God knows where he got it from), go forward into No Man's Land between the trenches, crawl towards the wounded, drag them back to this donkey, and then walk the pair of them to the medicos. Under enemy fire. From a cliff. With machine guns. The bravery of this man is unspeakable. And he kept doing it, day after day after day. And half the time, he doesn't jag a mention. Just being in this awful mess is enough. You'll note very few references to the Western Front. More Australians died there than any other battle in history. By like a factor of ten. (Oddly enough, my great uncle survived both Gallipoli and the Battle of the Somme.) You will, however, see the Kokoda Track, and the Prisoners of Changi. Those are stories of pain, and of sacrifice. A good Australian is intensely associated with self-sacrifice for the sake of others. On Anzac Day, we acknowlege the terrible things that other guys we didn't know, and never met, had to endure because of the fact they actually, maddeningly, cared enough about other people *they* didn't know. And it was expected of them. It's part of the Australian ethos that says you should bloody well try and help a mate, even he's only your mate by the fact that he pissed you off once. You may not have to talk to the prick, but if he's dying you damned well give a pat on the shoulder. And offer him a beer next time for the next time you're in a pub together. And it was on this night (in the bath; I rarely take baths) that I reflected that Australia is really unlike most other democracies in that, instead of handing out rights, we tend to hand out responsibilities, and demand that everyone fight for whatever rights they feel like fighting for. If it's a dumb idea though, its your responsibility to take it like a grown up. We have no idea what our rights are, except for our opinion on what they should be. And damned if I don't love that. Anzac Day is only ever about bravery in the face of defeat, and overcoming that. It's never about us winning, but it has been at times, with our people in East Timor in particular. Last year, the last man who was at Gallipoli died, and it truly was saddening. That was a ramble, wasn't it? The playing of the Last Post does it to me every time though. It's so utterly dignified in the face of defeat. For those of you have never had the pleasure of hearing that rather incredible minute or so, try very had to do so. Imagine standing in an immense crowd, on a dull and dreary day like today, who are all completely silent. The weight of the sheear *amount* of silence and poignancy of the moment never fails to move me. I shall close out with the lines that have been read at the end of every Anzac Day cermony I've ever been to. -------------- They shall grow not old....as we that are left grow old Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them Lest We Forget. -------------- *sigh*
|
|
|
Post by Flash on Apr 24, 2006 16:24:37 GMT -5
Re: Radio Talkback Topic on Line 3 and www.radiotalkback.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is my 'Talkback Topic' copy for Monday 24th April 2006 Welcome to Talkback Topic - I'm Phillip Pye. Tomorrow, April 25th is ANZAC Day. It is a day when many Ex-serviceman, present day servicemen, Adults and Children get out of bed very early and endure the cold and attend a 'Dawn Service'. After that, many join in on the traditional ANZAC Day March and then many head for the RSL Clubs for Two Up, Tales, and Hot Toddies. It is not only the Ex-servicemen who partake in the latter, it is open to anyone 18 years or over and the attendance of those younger appears to be increasing every year. Is that how we remember them?, a day to gamble and drink, is that what they would have wanted?, maybe, maybe not. The true Anzac's are almost all gone, passed on, but their legacy has continued. To be truthful, it is a time that many of the old Diggers would have rather forgotten but the bleak reminder of death as they saw it, fails to leave the conscience of the soul. There are factual stories of how many were given 5 bullets and told to kill 4 enemy and keep the last one for themselves. How many actually used that last bullet on themselves is a memory that only they who were there would remember. The gruesome reminders of a War that they hoped would never happen again, but it did, still does, and sadly, still will. The significance of ANZAC Day relates to the 25th April 1915 when Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula. It was the start of a campaign that was to last eight months. The casualties were enormous throughout the campaign - Turks 86,692, British 21,255, French 9,798, Australians 8,709, New Zealanders 2,701 and New Foundland 49. Apart from Memorials at Anzac Cove almost every town and city in Australia and New Zealand has erected a Memorial to those who fought and gave their lives. Australian Troops landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula at Ari Burnu before dawn on April 25th 1915. The aim of the first 1500 troops was to seize the beach and secure the high ground of the third (or Gun) ridge. Control of this ground was vital for success. Later landings of a further 2500 troops would then be able to push their way inland towards the Forts of Dardanelles. Finally the remaining 21,000 Anzac's would be sent ashore to move inland under the protection of the first 4000. The first wave of Troops took the beach, but they failed to secure the higher ridges overlooking the area. This meant that the following Troops were unable to advance. The area where the Troops landed was rugged with steep cliffs and criss-crossing gullies which gave the Turkish Snipers a great advantage resulting in ANZAC Troops losing contact with each other and failing to reach objectives. The whole mission was a failure but a retreat was not ordered and the battle continued for a further 7 months. By nightfall of that fateful day of April 25th, commanders realised that their mission was unsuccessful so they gave the orders, dig, dig, dig. The rest is History. This year the Sydney ANZAC March will be headed by a New Zealand Maori - Edison Te Kanae Wineera who fought during WWII with the 28th Maori Battalion. Stories abound with tales of enemy fear at the sound and sight of the Haka. One wonders also, how many Indigenous Australians fought during WWI, often referred to as 'The Great War'. Whatever, it created a Kinship between Australians and New Zealanders that will, irrespective of anything, always remain. Tomorrow, when the Sun rises in the East, until it sets in the West, Please Remember Them. I'm Phillip Pye -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God Grant me the Serenity To accept the things I cannot Change Courage to change the things I can And Wisdom to know the difference. ------------------------------------------------------- About ANZAC Day ANZAC Day commemorates the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps' (ANZAC) first combat action in the First World War. Proudly calling themselves ANZACs, the troops were part of a push to capture what is now Turkey's Gallipoli peninsula, then part of the Ottoman Empire and allied with Germany. Landing on April 25, 1915, the ANZACs and British allies met fierce resistance from the Turkish defenders. The attack turned into a stalemate which lasted until the allied forces were evacuated eight months later. More than 8,000 Australian soldiers were killed. The news shocked the nation and the anniversary was officially named ANZAC Day in 1916. It is now a day when Australians reflect on all wars and pause to remember those who died. ------------------------------------------------------------------ seven.com.au/news/anzacday
|
|
|
Post by Flash on Apr 24, 2006 16:29:58 GMT -5
HOCKEY TO MARK ANZAC DAY ON THE KOKODA TRACK13th April 2006
Member for North Sydney, Joe Hockey, will spend Anzac Day this year on the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea to mark one of the great Australian battles of World War II.
Mr Hockey said that walking the Kokoda Track will be one of the most important experiences of his time in federal parliament.
"Kokoda is etched in the Australian psyche because of the sheer tenacity and courage of those young Australians who fought in appalling conditions to prevent Japanese forces reaching Port Moresby and Australia," Mr Hockey said.
"I am glad that I will have the opportunity to join the many Australians who in recent times have walked the Kokoda Track in the footsteps of our diggers to honour their heroic struggle.
"Kokoda has appropriately become something of an Australian pilgrimage along with visiting the battlefields of Gallipoli.
"It is going to be a gruelling eight days, despite several months of training. I know, however, that walking the 96 kilometre Track today will bear little resemblance to the Track in 1942 and the suffering and privations that young Australians endured during World War II. I hope that it will give me some sense of what they went through in the defence of Australia.
"During 1942 and January, 1943 a force largely consisting of members of the Australian Militia, the equivalent of today’s Army Reserve, fought a retreat across Papua New Guinea before turning the tables on the Japanese army and forcing the invading forces back to the northern coastline of New Guinea.
"These were largely reservists in their late teens or early 20’s without the military training and experience of regulars – we can only imagine the hell that they experienced fighting what was effectively guerrilla warfare in the jungles and mountains of New Guinea.
"I will spend Anzac Day at the impressive Isurva Memorial on the Track which I expect will be an incredibly moving experience.
Mr Hockey will walk the Kokoda Track over eight days with Opposition Foreign Affairs spokesman, Kevin Rudd. The trip has been arranged in conjunction with Channel 7’s Sunrise Program and its co-presenter David Koch will walk the Track with Mr Hockey and Mr Rudd. The Anzac Service from Isurava will be broadcast live on Channel 7.
|
|
|
Post by Flash on Apr 24, 2006 16:39:04 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Flash on Apr 24, 2006 16:41:34 GMT -5
THE KOKODA CAMPAIGN THE KOKODA CAMPAIGN. Japan's second Attempt to Capture Port Moresby and isolate ... Kokoda - Forging an Australian Tradition. Overview of the Campaign ... www.users.bigpond.com/battleforAustralia/ battaust/KokodaCampaign/KokodaIndex.html
|
|
|
Post by Flash on Apr 24, 2006 20:54:52 GMT -5
Re: Radio Talkback Topic on Line 3 and www.radiotalkback.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is my 'Talkback Topic' copy for Monday 24th April 2006 Welcome to Talkback Topic - I'm Phillip Pye. Tomorrow, April 25th is ANZAC Day. It is a day when many Ex-serviceman, present day servicemen, Adults and Children get out of bed very early and endure the cold and attend a 'Dawn Service'. After that, many join in on the traditional ANZAC Day March and then many head for the RSL Clubs for Two Up, Tales, and Hot Toddies. It is not only the Ex-servicemen who partake in the latter, it is open to anyone 18 years or over and the attendance of those younger appears to be increasing every year. Is that how we remember them?, a day to gamble and drink, is that what they would have wanted?, maybe, maybe not. The true Anzac's are almost all gone, passed on, but their legacy has continued. To be truthful, it is a time that many of the old Diggers would have rather forgotten but the bleak reminder of death as they saw it, fails to leave the conscience of the soul. There are factual stories of how many were given 5 bullets and told to kill 4 enemy and keep the last one for themselves. How many actually used that last bullet on themselves is a memory that only they who were there would remember. The gruesome reminders of a War that they hoped would never happen again, but it did, still does, and sadly, still will. The significance of ANZAC Day relates to the 25th April 1915 when Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula. It was the start of a campaign that was to last eight months. The casualties were enormous throughout the campaign - Turks 86,692, British 21,255, French 9,798, Australians 8,709, New Zealanders 2,701 and New Foundland 49. Apart from Memorials at Anzac Cove almost every town and city in Australia and New Zealand has erected a Memorial to those who fought and gave their lives. Australian Troops landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula at Ari Burnu before dawn on April 25th 1915. The aim of the first 1500 troops was to seize the beach and secure the high ground of the third (or Gun) ridge. Control of this ground was vital for success. Later landings of a further 2500 troops would then be able to push their way inland towards the Forts of Dardanelles. Finally the remaining 21,000 Anzac's would be sent ashore to move inland under the protection of the first 4000. The first wave of Troops took the beach, but they failed to secure the higher ridges overlooking the area. This meant that the following Troops were unable to advance. The area where the Troops landed was rugged with steep cliffs and criss-crossing gullies which gave the Turkish Snipers a great advantage resulting in ANZAC Troops losing contact with each other and failing to reach objectives. The whole mission was a failure but a retreat was not ordered and the battle continued for a further 7 months. By nightfall of that fateful day of April 25th, commanders realised that their mission was unsuccessful so they gave the orders, dig, dig, dig. The rest is History. This year the Sydney ANZAC March will be headed by a New Zealand Maori - Edison Te Kanae Wineera who fought during WWII with the 28th Maori Battalion. Stories abound with tales of enemy fear at the sound and sight of the Haka. One wonders also, how many Indigenous Australians fought during WWI, often referred to as 'The Great War'. Whatever, it created a Kinship between Australians and New Zealanders that will, irrespective of anything, always remain. Tomorrow, when the Sun rises in the East, until it sets in the West, Please Remember Them. I'm Phillip Pye -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God Grant me the Serenity To accept the things I cannot Change Courage to change the things I can And Wisdom to know the difference. --------------------------------------------------------- 'Is that how we remember them?, a day to gamble and drink, is that what they would have wanted?, maybe, maybe not.' Phillip Pye's laudable dedication to the Anzac spirit is sometimes confused with the more human and mundane (but enjoyable, less serene, less wise, and less courageous) pleasures of the flesh, isn't it? hey? hey? RodneyK Enjoy
|
|
|
Post by buzz on Apr 25, 2006 6:44:34 GMT -5
Re: Radio Talkback Topic on Line 3 and www.radiotalkback.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is my 'Talkback Topic' copy for Monday 24th April 2006 Welcome to Talkback Topic - I'm Phillip Pye. Tomorrow, April 25th is ANZAC Day. It is a day when many Ex-serviceman, present day servicemen, Adults and Children get out of bed very early and endure the cold and attend a 'Dawn Service'. After that, many join in on the traditional ANZAC Day March and then many head for the RSL Clubs for Two Up, Tales, and Hot Toddies. It is not only the Ex-servicemen who partake in the latter, it is open to anyone 18 years or over and the attendance of those younger appears to be increasing every year. Is that how we remember them?, a day to gamble and drink, is that what they would have wanted?, maybe, maybe not. The true Anzac's are almost all gone, passed on, but their legacy has continued. To be truthful, it is a time that many of the old Diggers would have rather forgotten but the bleak reminder of death as they saw it, fails to leave the conscience of the soul. There are factual stories of how many were given 5 bullets and told to kill 4 enemy and keep the last one for themselves. How many actually used that last bullet on themselves is a memory that only they who were there would remember. The gruesome reminders of a War that they hoped would never happen again, but it did, still does, and sadly, still will. The significance of ANZAC Day relates to the 25th April 1915 when Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula. It was the start of a campaign that was to last eight months. The casualties were enormous throughout the campaign - Turks 86,692, British 21,255, French 9,798, Australians 8,709, New Zealanders 2,701 and New Foundland 49. Apart from Memorials at Anzac Cove almost every town and city in Australia and New Zealand has erected a Memorial to those who fought and gave their lives. Australian Troops landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula at Ari Burnu before dawn on April 25th 1915. The aim of the first 1500 troops was to seize the beach and secure the high ground of the third (or Gun) ridge. Control of this ground was vital for success. Later landings of a further 2500 troops would then be able to push their way inland towards the Forts of Dardanelles. Finally the remaining 21,000 Anzac's would be sent ashore to move inland under the protection of the first 4000. The first wave of Troops took the beach, but they failed to secure the higher ridges overlooking the area. This meant that the following Troops were unable to advance. The area where the Troops landed was rugged with steep cliffs and criss-crossing gullies which gave the Turkish Snipers a great advantage resulting in ANZAC Troops losing contact with each other and failing to reach objectives. The whole mission was a failure but a retreat was not ordered and the battle continued for a further 7 months. By nightfall of that fateful day of April 25th, commanders realised that their mission was unsuccessful so they gave the orders, dig, dig, dig. The rest is History. This year the Sydney ANZAC March will be headed by a New Zealand Maori - Edison Te Kanae Wineera who fought during WWII with the 28th Maori Battalion. Stories abound with tales of enemy fear at the sound and sight of the Haka. One wonders also, how many Indigenous Australians fought during WWI, often referred to as 'The Great War'. Whatever, it created a Kinship between Australians and New Zealanders that will, irrespective of anything, always remain. Tomorrow, when the Sun rises in the East, until it sets in the West, Please Remember Them. I'm Phillip Pye -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God Grant me the Serenity To accept the things I cannot Change Courage to change the things I can And Wisdom to know the difference. --------------------------------------------------------- 'Is that how we remember them?, a day to gamble and drink, is that what they would have wanted?, maybe, maybe not.' Phillip Pye's laudable dedication to the Anzac spirit is sometimes confused with the more human and mundane (but enjoyable, less serene, less wise, and less courageous) pleasures of the flesh, isn't it? hey? hey? RodneyK Enjoy Corporal Sydney Harry: An Anzac Story of Honour Denied Submitted by Laurel on Mon, 2006/04/24 - 8:52pm. Newswire | Australia On our wall at home there was always a photo of Uncle Syd, a World War 1 soldier. We didn't know much about him, except that he died after the war. He had never married. When Aunty Kittie, his niece, died in the 1970s, my mother was left a trunk full of old photos, postcards and letters. In 2005, my mother asked me to find where Uncle Syd was buried. She didn't want to leave this earth not knowing. And so began the journey of discovery. I opened the trunk and began to read, and to write a timeline of Uncle Syd's life. He was born in Redruth, Cornwall and was apprenticed as a watchmaker at the age of 12. By that time most of his uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters had migrated to Sydney where one uncle had established a Stoveworks and Iron Foundry opposite the railway station in Redfern. The Foundry won the contract to make all the drain covers and grills for Sydney streets and most of them are still there today. When he was 16, Sydney joined the British Army and became a career soldier, rising through the ranks to Sergeant by the age of 22 or so. He left the Army in 1912 and migrated to Sydney where he obtained work with a Redfern watchmaker. When World War 1 broke out, at first only recruits aged under 30 years were accepted. But by January 1915, they were taking allcomers. Sydney re-enlisted in Liverpool in the Signalling Corps. His well-written letters show a man of great intelligence, wit and caring. Most of his letters were to his sister Eliza Kate. From Liverpool he wrote of cameraderie, the misery of a week of rain, of bands playing and of shooting contests. On 8th March 1915 Sydney wrote from Liverpool Camp: “I got back safely on Saturday night and slept soundly after I got to sleep until Reveille at which time I was just awake and of course looking at my watch to see the time. It was a warm day yesterday. In the morning we had the Archbishop but I was so far away that I couldn’t hear anything. In the afternoon I lay down outside reading and went to sleep till 5 o’clock then had tea and about 6.30 I went to bed outside for the night. To day X Coy. is broken up and all transferred to the 19th Battalion here except two of us who joined the Signalling Coy. which is stationed down just below the cook house and where we were before. I don’t know yet much about the crowd but from what I have seen the heads seem a nice lot. Anyhow I’ve got something to do now to refreshen my lost signalling and telegraphy and am just going to buy a ‘signalling manual’ so to read up, the Sergt. seems glad to have me and that’s something. I’ll be able to tell you more when I see you which I hope will not be long. To day it has been blowing a hurricane and I’m writing this on the floor of the Salvation Army tent or at least where the tent was, as it was blown down this afternoon. They are getting a dozen volunteers to put it up again so I’m going to help. There has been clouds of dust today so bad in fact that the afternoon parade was cancelled but the signallers went to the river for a dip 3.30. We have a service every morning instead of Physical Drill. There were several discharges to day of men who enlisted for some special corps and wouldn’t do any thing else. We are not so crowded here as in X Coy. only 6 in the tent. It seems to be the opinion here that Egypt will be our destination. So I’ll have to cut a chunk off the Pyramids as a curio. Now Sweetheart I must away as they want all our help with this big tent and it’s still blowing a lot. Fondest love to all and I wish I was with you to say ‘good night darling’ and be in my Kingdom.” Soon he was on the train to Melbourne; from the train he wrote of the terrible drought in N.S.W. and parts of Victoria; of dead sheep in paddocks and dry dusty landscapes. He arrived at the newly-established Broadmeadows Camp near Melbourne. From there he wrote of lovely cups of tea, sandwiches and trips on trams. He thanked his sister for sending a tin of biscuits - probably Anzac Biscuits. 2nd April 1915: “Tonight all the boys in the tent are gone to a concert given in the Officers Mess Tent. We have one every Wednesday, but I would be alone here with you dear for an hour so have been up to get some paper and am now sitting up in bed writing this. And I am so happy as can be away from Sydney. On Saturday afternoon I took my Easter leave and went to Melbourne. There were not many places vacant and I felt justified in not wanting to be in crowded places like many of the Coffee Palaces. The Victoria Coffee Palace is a nice place but was full so they recommended the Cathedral Hotel where I was very comfortable, everything and everybody was very nice. During the remainder of the afternoon I went to the Art Gallery and came back to dinner at 7 o’clock in the evening. I went for a motor bus ride (up with the driver), they are Petrol Electric, to St Kilda. It was a lonely night. Of course there were a few soldiers in town practically all the Signallers. The Infantry came in Sunday night to Tuesday night. ....It’s no easy task for you to write long letters after a strenuous day in the office, but somehow I feel sure I shall have the proverbial lines. And of course I’m looking forward to Dorrie's little letter, and when I come to Sydney again I will take her to Manly and have a ‘go’ on the ‘obby orses’. To-night I have been eating Butter Scotch (Callards) 3rd packet of eight cakes and very good, it’s the first time I’ve eaten any lollies since coming down in the train. It is still cold here and we had rain for two days but not very heavy, I see by the papers you have had heavy rain in the Sydney district. I heard here that Liverpool Camp was nearly washed and blown away so we mustn’t grumble at a few showers. I had a bit of a cold but got some extra blankets from the quarter master and was soon all right again.” In June he departed aboard H.M.A.T. Karoola and arrived in Egypt on 18th July, where he purchased some postcards and souvenirs: ‘Dearest Kittie, We arrived here after a railway journey from Suez. I am well, happy and a soldier. My address will be for a short time Heliopolis Camp, Egypt and may be forwarded. Every minute of the day and night I am still your loving Bro, Syd” He also wrote of his pride at being a 'real Aussie boy' of the Southern Cross. Within weeks he was on his way to Gallipoli. The 25th August was supposed to be the start of the Wet Season. It was muggy, and a little rain fell. Sydney got up early to write to his sister, perhaps for the last time. His thoughts were of home, and of the bells of St Stephen’s Church in Newtown. “ 2175 Corpl. S. Harry 4th Battalion A.I.F. 25th August 1915 My dearest Kittie, It seems such a long time since I wrote the post card but it is only a week I find, I am still keeping well, we are having lovely weather, inclined to be warm, otherwise perfection itself. We are of course very busy here and not much time to think of anything, though of course sweetheart you always occupy one space which all the duty in the world could not crowd out. I sent a post card to Nettie and Jack and will write when there’s an opportunity, though it is the most difficult task to collect one’s thoughts here for letter writing, as we do not say anything but that of a personal nature. I thank God for the blessing that you and all at 53 (Liberty Street) are ever present with me. It’s such joy to know and to feel that, and I’m so glad that I’m here doing my little bit and joyfully look forward to meeting again with you. To day if I have time I shall go to the 4th and see if there are any letters, as the two I had at Heliopolis are the only ones I’ve had so far, so even now there’s joy in the anticipation. We all seem to enjoy good health here. I have a lovely view of the sea here and at night it looks simply wonderful, though on the noisy side. You will see I have taken up my old rank again. Here of course we are all Australians together so am often coming across someone I know or from Newtown or Enmore districts, and of course everyone’s friendly, so we’re all cobbers. I have had a good appetite of late and you would be surprised to see me at meals now, and often do a turn at cooking my own. If you see any of Jack or Lily (Harry, his brother’s daughter) give them all my love and I will write as soon as possible. I went to Communion on last Sunday week which will be the last for some time I suppose. How is Mr Begbie getting on at St Stephens, have they done anything to the bells yet? Give my best wishes to Rev. Begbie, Misses Locke, Birch and Crown, also to Harry Lawrence and Jack Anderson. I can’t say that the music that fills the air is as sweet as St Stephens Bells - which I hope to hear again. Now my Dearest I must finish with fondest love to you and all From Your Loving Brother Sydney “ Sydney took the letter down to the 4th Battalion tent. He would have had a final cup of tea and a cigarette before going out to his signalling duties. He was shot in the head by a Turkish bullet some time that day. There is no record of who carried him by stretcher to the nearest Field Hospital where his condition was assessed as critical and arrangements were made to transport him to Alexandria on board the hospital ship “Formosa”. Uncle Syd endured a horrendous operation to stem the blood gushing from a blood vessel on the left side of his head. He came very close to dying. His sister received a very grim telegram at this time. Eventually he recovered sufficiently to be sent home. Uncle Syd was in a bad way. His memory was never the same again. Letters that he wrote from a convalescent hospital show that he could no longer organize his thoughts. He suffered frequent fits, severe headaches and depression. He recovered sufficiently in a couple of years to study Pitman's Shorthand and Office Practice and then obtained a position as a laboratory attendant at the Naval College in Nowra. He was a civilian employee but he wrote that he enjoyed being back in a familiar environment. On the evening of January 9th 1924 Uncle Syd sat in the bar at the Naval College talking to his mates. He said that his head had been very bad, and he was in great pain. He had a lot of work to do the next day, but he told his friends that he didn't think he could get himself organized to do it. It worried him. He didn't know if he could carry on. The next morning, the 10th of January, he failed to appear in the laboratory. A worried friend went to his quarters to see what was wrong. The doors and windows were locked so he broke in and found Sydney dead on his bed. He had killed himself. As Sydney's mates knew a verdict of suicide by the Coroner would make it impossible to be buried in the Church of England cemetery in Nowra, they hastily arranged a burial for the next day. No family members attended. The shame of the suicide was so great that over the next eighty years, no-one spoke of the manner of Uncle Syd's death and no-one mentioned where he was buried. No-one ever visited his grave and there was no headstone. After I obtained his death certificate in early 2005 I discovered he was in an unmarked grave. My mother and I visited the gravesite. She applied to the cemetery to have ownership of the grave, being the only known living relative. The first hurdle was to convince the Shoalhaven Cemetery that it was Uncle Syd's grave. Due to a typing error, the name of the person interred was Sydney Harris. Having won that battle, I sought to have the Army and the War Graves Commission review the circumstances of his death and grant him a War Grave. The Coroner in Nowra, Reuben King had written "I have no doubt that his death was directly caused by the wound he suffered at Gallipoli, which made his life unbearable.....". This was a very forward-thinking Coroner. I pay tribute to Reuben King for his understanding. Army doctors studied the circumstances of Uncle Syd's life and death and came to the conclusion that his death was, indeed, caused by the gunshot wound he received at Gallipoli. In late 2005 a letter came from the War Graves Commission stating that Uncle Syd was to be recognized as having died of his wounds and that a memorial would be built on his grave by the end of 2006. I would like to dedicate this article to all the soldiers who have been unable to continue living following war service for whatever reason and who have ended their own lives in tragic circumstances. To the soldier who shot himself in Iraq this week. And to the fourteen young recruits who have hung themselves in the trees around the No. 1 Recruit Training Centre, rest in peace.
|
|
|
Post by matilda on Apr 26, 2006 5:01:48 GMT -5
I have always felt that our nation was born on those beaches. Before that, we were Englands child. What was it about the seemingly senseless slaughter that made us rethink our position in world affairs? I have always felt that for the soldiers, it was the British commanders. Our boys were being used to soak up bullets. It seemed inept stratagy in the face of Turkish machine guns. Whether it was or not, is debateable, at the very least it was a callous way to wage a war. It would seem today still, that we respect the enemy more than our allies in regards to anzac cove. Do any British battalions march?
Its the "larrikin disregard for authority" I think we need most these days. It helped bring us out from under englands skirts slowly but surely all through the 20thC if not finally making the final leap to full grown nationhood. It is late, IMO, even the Queen thinks we are ready, but it would seem that more conservative heads rule at the moment. This disregard for authority has served humanity well through several revolutions and is the foundation on which democracy is built.
It is proper to remember Anzac day, and what it means to us. Trust yourself. Trust your mates. Distrust the boss and the governor.
Maybe some of you more Right of the margins might wish to remember that. Especially when you get all "nationalistic"
nyknyk
|
|
|
Post by fusil on Apr 27, 2006 18:38:21 GMT -5
Phillip Pye left out the Indian casualties. Heres the full list from the AWM site.
Turkey 86,692 Britain 21,255 France 9,798 Australia 8,709 New Zealand 2,701 India 1,358 Newfoundland 49
Fusil.
|
|