The ANZACs - Lest We Forget

Son Of Coco · 24-04-2005, 12:42 AM

Just wanted to make mention of the ANZACs given that tomorrow is our day of rememberance. I'd never taken a more than a passing interest in Anzac Day and what it stood for up until a couple of years ago, then I went to an Anzac Day service at Edinburgh Castle. I'm not sure whether being away from home deepened nationalistic feelings, but it was a wonderful feeling standing in a centuries old church with entrance limited to Australians, New Zealanders and Brits, and I now really appreciate the effort put in by our grandfather/great grandfathers etc in very difficult times.

I have a few mates who made the trip from wherever they were in the UK at the time to Anzac Cove for the ceremony on the 25th and they all said it was the best thing they've ever done. Unfortunately I've never made it myself, but hope to in the future...and also hope I'm not standing near some of the people who go there and treat it like a massive party.

There's a lot of stuff on TV here in Oz in the days preceeding Anzac Day about the ANZACS, but this is the first time I've really taken any notice...it was a bloody brave effort on their behalf and some amazing stuff has come out about individual efforts of bravery etc. Some of the guys there were only as old as some of the younger members on this forum (i.e 14/15), unbelievable.

I'm not sure whether this thread actually has a 'contributory' aspect!? Just post what you want about the ANZACS I guess

Robertinho · 24-04-2005, 12:45 AM

I love the little thing how, "They will not grow old, We left behind will age" etc., think it's quite true and a good tribute.

Mr Casson · 24-04-2005, 12:46 AM

Word up Coco... A whole nation's spirit has been forged on their legend.

age_master · 24-04-2005, 12:50 AM

indeed war was much more 'glorified' back than, especially with the governments able to control the media so much more - people had no idea what war was actually like.

Blaze · 24-04-2005, 12:51 AM

I think we should remember the people the ANZACS were fighting as well.. the war was terrible for everyone

Robertinho · 24-04-2005, 12:52 AM

Don't you just swell up with pride when you see the footage of diggers carrying their wounded mates up hills, across rivers, etc? They're all heroes..

BoyBrumby · 24-04-2005, 01:15 AM

Whenever the Last Post is played I get a lump in my throat. As I get older the sense that these boys (for that's what they were, I'd guess upwards of 95% of the combatants were younger than me) were indeed the finest flowering of a nation's youth.

It's also partly the reason that I get sentimental about the commonwealth. In the dark days of 1940-41 it was our colonies & former colonies that stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us (Austalia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Southern Africa & The West Indian islands) against the Axis forces.

When SR Waugh took the touring Ashes squad to Gallipoli I knew that here was a fella who knew what it meant to be an ANZAC. It was also the time in my mind that he moved from being a great player to a great man. I actually think it's a bit of a pity Autralians no longer receive knighthoods, because Sir Stephen would really suit him!

masterblaster · 24-04-2005, 01:19 AM

I agree with everyone's comments here. Lest We Forget...

Son Of Coco · 24-04-2005, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blaze

I think we should remember the people the ANZACS were fighting as well.. the war was terrible for everyone

Yeah, there seemed to be a great deal of respect amongst enemies on the battlefield back then with truces made over a number of hours to bury the dead etc.

FaaipDeOiad · 24-04-2005, 01:40 AM

I've never been a fan of the holiday and the parade and so on, as I find it pointlessly glorifies something which doesn't really have much glory in it. It's certainly important however that we remember that the true cost of war is the lives of young people, and medals and tickertape parades and so on don't change the fact that most of them didn't come back alive.

Lest we forget.

Mr Casson · 24-04-2005, 01:47 AM

Just thought I should mention that the cookies are bloody fantastic too.

Son Of Coco · 24-04-2005, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoyBrumby

Whenever the Last Post is played I get a lump in my throat. As I get older the sense that these boys (for that's what they were, I'd guess upwards of 95% of the combatants were younger than me) were indeed the finest flowering of a nation's youth.

It's also partly the reason that I get sentimental about the commonwealth. In the dark days of 1940-41 it was our colonies & former colonies that stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us (Austalia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Southern Africa & The West Indian islands) against the Axis forces.

When SR Waugh took the touring Ashes squad to Gallipoli I knew that here was a fella who knew what it meant to be an ANZAC. It was also the time in my mind that he moved from being a great player to a great man. I actually think it's a bit of a pity Autralians no longer receive knighthoods, because Sir Stephen would really suit him!

Isn't the Last Post haunting!? At the castle they played the last post followed by a bagpipe piece (I'm not sure what it was called) trailing off into the distance. It was quite a moment.

It's amazing to note that young people actually lied about their age to become involved in the war effort, hence 14/15 year olds etc finding themselves on the front line. It may have been ignorance re: the implication of what 'being at war' meant and involved but it's still an unbelievable effort. Even if it was ignorance in some shape or form, it's an amazing display of courage to front up as a volunteer and be sent 1000's of miles away, and turn up in hell...I couldn't even imagine doing it.

Son Of Coco · 24-04-2005, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Casson

Just thought I should mention that the cookies are bloody fantastic too.

hahaha

Aren't they good!

Mr Casson · 24-04-2005, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Son Of Coco

hahaha

Aren't they good!

They have a fitting relationship. If ANZAC cookies tasted like dog-biscuits it would have been a real slap in the face to such a heroic troupe.

When I was at the War Memorial I read that the biscuits they had were so hard they had to be grated into powder so they could eat them. It doesn't surprise me that they're not made like that now! I suppose as far as cookies go, they must have been fairly nutritious back then, if they were fed to soldiers.

Mister Wright · 24-04-2005, 02:44 AM

Lest We Forget.

I think it's great that we have a time to remember our diggers, and the contribution of the Kiwis and the Aussies as a joint force.

24-04-2005, 12:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
Son Of Coco Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,061	The ANZACs - Lest We Forget Just wanted to make mention of the ANZACs given that tomorrow is our day of rememberance. I'd never taken a more than a passing interest in Anzac Day and what it stood for up until a couple of years ago, then I went to an Anzac Day service at Edinburgh Castle. I'm not sure whether being away from home deepened nationalistic feelings, but it was a wonderful feeling standing in a centuries old church with entrance limited to Australians, New Zealanders and Brits, and I now really appreciate the effort put in by our grandfather/great grandfathers etc in very difficult times. I have a few mates who made the trip from wherever they were in the UK at the time to Anzac Cove for the ceremony on the 25th and they all said it was the best thing they've ever done. Unfortunately I've never made it myself, but hope to in the future...and also hope I'm not standing near some of the people who go there and treat it like a massive party. There's a lot of stuff on TV here in Oz in the days preceeding Anzac Day about the ANZACS, but this is the first time I've really taken any notice...it was a bloody brave effort on their behalf and some amazing stuff has come out about individual efforts of bravery etc. Some of the guys there were only as old as some of the younger members on this forum (i.e 14/15), unbelievable. I'm not sure whether this thread actually has a 'contributory' aspect!? Just post what you want about the ANZACS I guess __________________ "What is this what is this who is this guy shouting what is this going on in here?" - CP. (re: psxpro) R.I.P Craigos, you were a champion bloke. One of the best *R.I.P Fardin 'Bob' Qayyumi* Member of the Church of the Holy Glenn McGrath

24-04-2005, 12:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
Robertinho Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Testing Forums into the Sunset Posts: 8,442	I love the little thing how, "They will not grow old, We left behind will age" etc., think it's quite true and a good tribute. __________________ "If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - for ever."

24-04-2005, 12:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mr Casson Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sydney Posts: 9,653	Word up Coco... A whole nation's spirit has been forged on their legend. __________________ 'Copperfield,' said Mr. Micawber, 'farewell! Every happiness and prosperity! If, in the progress of revolving years, I could persuade myself that my blighted destiny had been a warning to you, I should feel that I had not occupied another man's place in existence altogether in vain. - Wilkins Micawber

24-04-2005, 12:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
age_master Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 15,777	indeed war was much more 'glorified' back than, especially with the governments able to control the media so much more - people had no idea what war was actually like. __________________ Member of CW Green Kerry O'Keefe - Worlds funniest Commentator

24-04-2005, 01:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
BoyBrumby Englishman Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Doing the stance Posts: 42,646	Whenever the Last Post is played I get a lump in my throat. As I get older the sense that these boys (for that's what they were, I'd guess upwards of 95% of the combatants were younger than me) were indeed the finest flowering of a nation's youth. It's also partly the reason that I get sentimental about the commonwealth. In the dark days of 1940-41 it was our colonies & former colonies that stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us (Austalia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Southern Africa & The West Indian islands) against the Axis forces. When SR Waugh took the touring Ashes squad to Gallipoli I knew that here was a fella who knew what it meant to be an ANZAC. It was also the time in my mind that he moved from being a great player to a great man. I actually think it's a bit of a pity Autralians no longer receive knighthoods, because Sir Stephen would really suit him! __________________ *- As featured in The Independent.* "This is not the time for namby-pamby promising youngsters who might just do something; not the time for building for the future. Pragmatism rules and they don't come more pragmatic than Rogers." - Victor Marks makes the case for stiff-legged and stiff-armed 35 year old left-handers in Ashes squads

24-04-2005, 12:51 AM	#5 (permalink)
Blaze Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: NZ Posts: 5,124	I think we should remember the people the ANZACS were fighting as well.. the war was terrible for everyone

24-04-2005, 12:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
Robertinho Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Testing Forums into the Sunset Posts: 8,442	Don't you just swell up with pride when you see the footage of diggers carrying their wounded mates up hills, across rivers, etc? They're all heroes..

24-04-2005, 01:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
masterblaster International Captain Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 6,065	I agree with everyone's comments here. Lest We Forget... __________________ Self Elected Vice-President of AAAS (Ajit Agarkar Appreciation Society) "Uniting Ajit Agarkar Fans World Wide" Always Live Life With: Intensity, Integrity and Intelligence

24-04-2005, 01:40 AM	#10 (permalink)
FaaipDeOiad Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 18,682	I've never been a fan of the holiday and the parade and so on, as I find it pointlessly glorifies something which doesn't really have much glory in it. It's certainly important however that we remember that the true cost of war is the lives of young people, and medals and tickertape parades and so on don't change the fact that most of them didn't come back alive. Lest we forget. __________________ I know a place where a royal flush Can never beat a pair

24-04-2005, 01:47 AM	#11 (permalink)
Mr Casson Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sydney Posts: 9,653	Just thought I should mention that the cookies are bloody fantastic too.

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