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Lest we forget |
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acacia alba
Champion Joined: 30 Oct 2010 Location: Hunter Valley Status: Online Points: 41547 |
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Posted: 22 Apr 2023 at 1:49pm |
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animals before people.
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acacia alba
Champion Joined: 30 Oct 2010 Location: Hunter Valley Status: Online Points: 41547 |
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© Provided by ABC NEWS
The deeds of Tasmania's Victoria Cross recipients range from service in the Boer War to Afghanistan. (Supplied)
Feeling as though Tasmania's 15 Victoria Cross recipients were being increasingly forgotten, Kerri Statton embarked on what she was told was an impossible task — getting all the families together in one place. Her constant phone calls and messages will pay off on Tuesday when two descendants from each family sit down for lunch at the Tasmanian Club in Hobart. "Ringing these descendants, finding them … to be told I couldn't find 15 and to have found them all, I was so excited," she said. "This event is a once-in-a-lifetime event — it's never happened in Australia and it hasn't happened anywhere." "The recipients have had reunions, the descendants have never had a reunion, and from what I've been told that is Australia-wide … I'm even hearing it as far as Canada." Mrs Statton is the great-granddaughter of Sergeant Percy Statton, who was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for rescuing two badly wounded men while under heavy fire near Proyart in France, in August 1918. She said she found it "sad" that Tasmania's VC recipients were rarely talked about and wanted to spark conversations about them.
"I'm hoping out of tomorrow's luncheon that we all stay connected. "We're all getting older, but [I hope] the 13 that are 100-odd years old start to get remembered again, bring them back into history again." Family members attending the luncheon range from children of recipients to cousins, great-grandchildren and even a father, with six families travelling from interstate for the event. Thirteen of the 15 Tasmanian Victoria Cross recipients were awarded the honour for deeds during World War I, one for service in Afghanistan and another for his heroism in World War II. Ordinary Seaman Edward , 78 years after his death in World War II, while Burnie-born Corporal Cameron Baird was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2013. 'He'd be proud we came'Caroline Gee, daughter of Lance Corporal Bernard Sidney Gordon, has flown from Queensland to Tasmania with her daughter Judith to attend the luncheon. Lance Corporal Gordon was born in Launceston and worked as a cooper's machinist in Beaconsfield, before moving to Queensland, where he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in 1915. He was awarded the VC for attacking a German machine-gun post, where he captured 29 prisoners single-handedly. Lance Corporal Gordon captured 63 enemy troops and six machine guns in total during World War I. He died in 1963, at the age of 72. Caroline Gee said the luncheon was a "wonderful idea" and said she was thrilled to be able to attend after COVID-19 cancelled three previous attempts to hold the event.
"They [were] very brave, wonderful men and this is why we live under this beautiful sky. "I think it's going to be a great occasion and we'll be able to talk to one another about our ancestors and the people that have done these wonderful acts." Mrs Gee said her father "had the most influence on my life of anybody". "He did believe that every man that stepped off the shore to fight for this country deserved a VC. In his mind he wasn't famous for what he did," she said. "He'd be proud that we came." Judith Gee said it was important to remember the stories of the people who risked their lives for their country. "I think it's really important, because how easy would it be [for] all of that to be forgotten and not acknowledge why we have the great country that we do right now," she said. Elaine Jarvis, the great-niece of Captain Percy Cherry, has been friends with Ms Statton for almost 20 years. She said she was delighted to have the opportunity to meet the families of other Tasmanian VC recipients. "I've got all these questions and notes to bring out and show them," she said.
Captain Cherry was born in Victoria but moved to Cradoc in the Huon Valley as a child, joining the Cygnet cadets and the army band there. He died in Lagnicourt-Marcel, France in 1917, after his company was overwhelmed by enemy troops. Captain Cherry organised machine-gun and bombing parties, sent back reports of progress and refused to leave his post after being wounded during battle. Ms Jarvis agreed more should be done to recognise the VC recipients. |
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animals before people.
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acacia alba
Champion Joined: 30 Oct 2010 Location: Hunter Valley Status: Online Points: 41547 |
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The painting is by Sandi Lear and if you google her you can see her latest work , of a war horse, called The Veteran, along with this moving tribute. "The Veteran" 1140mm x 730mm on Arches 300gsm rough. "The veteran, has survived, not without scars....sometimes visible...sometimes not. Out of the darkness and into the light, life refreshed but burdens remembered, as if filling a well, some of the life giving moisture is taken out, the light dimmed; and then a refreshing change starts to fill it again, for some never to be quenched. Whilst our incredibly brave men and women of the forces are repatriated, (although many lie in foreign graves or remain missing) our brave animal troops are too often left behind. Horses have always been a willing sacrifice for our forces overseas, rarely to return; and still, those remaining at home, now see service in helping our injured veterans learn to live with PTSD. Their gift keeps on giving....and yet, as with our own kind, do we say thank you twice a year and then turn away? As with our own kind, when we look in their eyes do we see their stories? Do we feel their pain? Do we acknowledge the anguish of being torn from their mates, their band, their brothers & sisters? Do we understand that their trust remains steady even as we leave them behind? Together our veterans of all the forces, as with our Lighthorse, forged unbreakable bonds, ties so deep as to be unfathomable, only to say goodbye. So, as the Lighthorseman gave his best mate his last drink, he gave him the final gift, sending him to greener pastures, forever young. At last the broken-hearted men returned home, heavy hearts, mourning. How is it possible to thank a veteran, man or beast, for a service we cannot hope to comprehend? We NEVER forget, we will EVER say thank you, we bow our heads in grief but with a camaraderie that all those who served, brought to us, taught us. This is what unites us as a nation, the expression of deep gratitude and a promise Lest We Forget. " ©2021 Sandi Lear, all rights reserved. |
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animals before people.
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Gay3
Moderator Group Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Location: Miners Rest Status: Offline Points: 52023 |
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Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
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acacia alba
Champion Joined: 30 Oct 2010 Location: Hunter Valley Status: Online Points: 41547 |
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Next Sunday on ABC TV Landline will be a tribute story of Bill The Bastard, the hero horse of the second war. The book is worth a read, and I reckon the program should be worth a look.
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animals before people.
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acacia alba
Champion Joined: 30 Oct 2010 Location: Hunter Valley Status: Online Points: 41547 |
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animals before people.
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acacia alba
Champion Joined: 30 Oct 2010 Location: Hunter Valley Status: Online Points: 41547 |
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Remembrance Day - 11th hour, of the 11th Day of the 11th Month In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders Fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders Fields. By Dr John McCrae, 1915 Lest We Forget |
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animals before people.
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acacia alba
Champion Joined: 30 Oct 2010 Location: Hunter Valley Status: Online Points: 41547 |
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We need to keep the memories alive. If we forget , we cant remember , and we cant keep those memories alive. |
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animals before people.
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max manewer
Champion Joined: 30 Jan 2010 Status: Offline Points: 32947 |
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I seem to recall in the 60's at school, this was a big deal (Armistice Day as it was then called), and certainly the class would observe the minute's silence. But there were still a few WWI veterans alive in those days, I actually lived next door to one in the 80's, he lived to 100. Never spoke a word of his war.
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acacia alba
Champion Joined: 30 Oct 2010 Location: Hunter Valley Status: Online Points: 41547 |
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At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Lest we forget.
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animals before people.
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Go Flash Go
Champion Joined: 08 Mar 2007 Location: Victoria Status: Offline Points: 10250 |
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This fellow didn't talk about whether he went to Anzac day but he did mention a fellow in New Guinea that was so badly hit, l won't go into detail, at the time they said well that's the end of him when they took his helmet off. Yet he was still around he said (back then in the 80's) so he kept in touch.
Perhaps your father helped .. you never know ...
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furious
Champion Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Status: Offline Points: 25179 |
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My father was like that although he had been in the ambulance cor up in New Guinea he never went to Anzac Day. War isn't something to be remembered as such. But we have to remember what war does to people and make sure to work a way through our issues. War like many things seem to destroy the inner person. And I don't think Anzac Day is a glory of war it's to make us remember the penalty of war.
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Go Flash Go
Champion Joined: 08 Mar 2007 Location: Victoria Status: Offline Points: 10250 |
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There were some great tributes and commemorations over the Anzac period not a thread really to put them all in ......
..anyway on theme worked with a fellow for many years in my twenties that was in WW2 ... Rat of Tobruk and then for good measure was sent to New Guinea Kokoda trail and that. Now he didn't talk at all except for one sentance stuff if a smart alec had a comment ... dispensed them in no uncertain manner ..... best toughest worker l've worked with l'd say ... and he was 65 back then ( really 70 but never said past 65 so he could keep on working) ...
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max manewer
Champion Joined: 30 Jan 2010 Status: Offline Points: 32947 |
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Anzac Day almost "died" in the 1930's, by all reports. People were pre-occupied with more immediate problems, like the hardships of the Depression, and the many WW1 veterans still alive, seemed not to want to be reminded of the dreadful war they experienced. I recall an uncle who was a warrior of some note in the second world war, not being much of a fan of Anzac Day, he shunned marching and medals, but would have a few drinks with his old comrades. It seems it is the people who did not go to war, that want to commemorate past wars and old soldiers.
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acacia alba
Champion Joined: 30 Oct 2010 Location: Hunter Valley Status: Online Points: 41547 |
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Amen to that, Furious. Very lovely poem.
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animals before people.
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furious
Champion Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Status: Offline Points: 25179 |
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Wrote this one on Saturday listening to the Last Post outside my window.
We remember not a victory We remember a defeat When looking back with hearts and minds We see a distant beach. We can feel their endeavour To keep each other safe We remember Men and Woman Lost together with their mates. What makes Australia different We don’t celebrate the war We remember instead the sacrifice Of those who gave their all. Of the countless men and woman Who’ve defended Aussie shores Who never returned to family On April 25th we pause. We say thank you for your service We thank also those returned We say thank you for your courage For the lessons which you learned. That war doesn’t solve our problems War doesn’t help the world But sometime we can’t avoid it Or our story would be soiled. So today we pause we listen To the souls now passed away We remember wars dark history With the many wreaths we lay. We remember sacrifice and service Remember fearful death and pain And we hope that with remembrance This will never come again. 2020 |
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acacia alba
Champion Joined: 30 Oct 2010 Location: Hunter Valley Status: Online Points: 41547 |
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Since today is the day for this, altho I feel we may have talked about it in another place ? Books to read or something maybe ? Anyone read the book "Bill The Bastard ". Read it. About the horse who went to war , a bush stallion, from the beaches where they raced him, to the desert where he carried his rider and SIX other men , and guns, to safety. Quite an amazing story, and he went to a Turkish farmer to sire babies.
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animals before people.
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acacia alba
Champion Joined: 30 Oct 2010 Location: Hunter Valley Status: Online Points: 41547 |
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Lest we forget. All the humans and animals involved in all conflicts . They shall gorw not old.
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animals before people.
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Gay3
Moderator Group Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Location: Miners Rest Status: Offline Points: 52023 |
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From acacia alba
"This Old Horse" Poem03 August 2014 "This Old Horse" This old horse, the Rancher said, Another horse would suit me, This old horse, the Rancher said, Another horse would suit me, This old horse, the Rancher said, Another horse would suit me, Why, they asked, then keep her? The Rancher's brow grew heavy, he took a staggered step, his eyes did show his hardships, in wrinkles, as they crept. His breath, he took in deeply, Another horse would suit me,This old horse, the Rancher said, and perhaps someday will come, This old horse, the Rancher said,
her service she did lend, Another horse would suit me well, Another horse would suit me well, Poem by Jess Vee |
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Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
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sunlinesusie
Weanling Joined: 25 Aug 2019 Location: South Australia Status: Offline Points: 83 |
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My three great Uncles, Ross, Keith and Colin Smith enlisted in the Great War. Keith served in London because of medical issues, Colin was killed at Villiers Bretoneux, and Ross became a flying ace. He was actually Lawrence of Olivier's pilot. 3 Distinguished flying medals, and after the war in 1919 he and Keith flew the Vickers Vimy from London to Australia in 28 days, and were knighted by the King.
Like all those who served, and the 6 million horses, donkeys and mules who died during WW1, we owe them all a debt of thanks and gratitude. Lest we forget |
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sunlinesusie
Weanling Joined: 25 Aug 2019 Location: South Australia Status: Offline Points: 83 |
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We will remember them.
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Bonjour
Champion Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Status: Offline Points: 8402 |
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Baguette, sorry just got to read this post, fabulous, in a very sad way......I have an uncle buried in the war graves near Ravenna Italy, he was shot in the legs, lay still for hours only to be killed the minute he put his head up to call for help.....I never met him of course, he was only 22 when he died, my Dad and his other brother were all effected injury wise, My Dad was a champion athlete, held a national record, had his leg blown to bits and it stopped his Olympic dream, my other uncle was captured in Egypt and spent 4 years in a POW camp in Germany......he never resented his captors, he was a humble and lovely man.....God bless our beautiful dead, although dead is a defeated word, these men and women never die in the minds and hearts of us all, we are here because of their bravery and commitment and we shall never. ever forget.
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Carioca
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A very moving piece Baguette, and my thoughts are with you and your family.
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Shawy38
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Thanks for sharing Baguette.
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Baguette
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Anzac Day is to me and my extended family a very sad and solem day. I think if my gentle Grandfather who fought at Gallipoli, nearly died there and mourned for his mates who didn't make it for the rest of his life. I think of his brother who fought on the Western Front, was severely injured and was left with a bad facial disfigurement. He came home to have the wife he adored leave him, he couldn't get a job because of his injury and he committed suicide in 1921. I think of my Grandmothers two cousins who died within a day of one another at Ypres. Their Grandmother never recovered from their loss and died in 1919 of a broken heart the family story goes . I think of OH's Grandfather who was in the Lighthorse, never spoke about his war until his great old age when he would talk about his beloved mare Blossom who he of course couldn't bring home. And all this is from only one family , multiply by the entire country you get some of why there had to be some sort of Remberance Day for what the country went through . Sad , sad sad. Sorry for the rant but it is an important day in our family.
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djebel
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reductio ad absurdum
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horseshoe
Champion Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Location: Tess' Paddock Status: Offline Points: 4526 |
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Lest We Forget
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Those who know don't tell, Those who tell don't know
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Carioca
Champion Joined: 13 Nov 2015 Status: Online Points: 21836 |
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Lest We Forget.
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Shawy38
Champion Joined: 13 Jun 2015 Status: Offline Points: 17415 |
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Well said.
I am absolutely appalled by the following. SHOCKING video has emerged of teenagers taking floral wreaths from the Box Hill War Memorial site. The video shows the group laughing and swearing as they haul away the wreaths placed in our honour of Australian servicemen and women. The expletive-ridden footage shows a teen running away from the bare cenotaph with an armful of floral tributes. A female voice can be heard saying: “Oh look how many *** got!†The footage was captured by one of the youths and shared on Snapchat. It has then been uploaded online where it has attracted widespread criticism. Victoria Police have been notified. The memorial site has this morning been restored, with the wreaths replaced underneath the cenotaph ahead of tomorrow’s Anzac Dawn service. |
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maccamax
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