NationStates Jolt Archive

My Aussie and Kiwi friends, and others, Today is ANZAC Day.

Somebody give me a vegemite sandwich.

Let's play 2 Up...

Now when I was a young man I carried me pack,
And I lived the free life of a rover,
From the Murray's green basin to the dusty outback,
I Waltzed my Matilda all over.
Then in 1915 my coutry said "Son,
its time to stop rambling there's work to be done",
So they gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun ,
And they sent me away to the war.
And the band played Waltzing Matilda,
As the ship pulled away from the quay,
And amid all the tears, flag-waving and cheers,
We sailed off to Gallipoli.


Well I remember that terrible day,
When our blood stained the sand and the water,
And how in that hell that they called Suvla Bay,
we were butchered like lambs at the slaughter.

Johnny Turk he was ready, oh he'd primed himself well,
He rained us with bullets and he showered us with shell,
And in five minutes flat we were all blown to hell,
Nearly blew us back home to Australia.

And the band played Waltzing Matilda,
When we stopped to bury our slain,
And we buried our and the Turks buried theirs,
And it started all over again.

Those who were living just tried to survive,
In that mad world of blood death and fire,
And for ten weary weeks I kept myself alive,
Though around me the corpses piled higher.

Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over head,
And when I awoke in me hospital bed,
And saw what it had done and I wished I were dead,
Never knew there were worse things than dying.

For no more I'll go Waltzing Matilda,
All around the green bush far and near,
For to hump tent and pegs a man needs both legs,
No more Waltzing Matilda for me.

They collected the wounded the cripled and maimed,
And they shipped us back home to Australia,
The armless, the legless, the blind, the insane,
Those proud wounded heros of Suvla.

And when the ship pulled into Circuilar Quay,
I looked at the place where me legs used to be,
And thanked Christ there was no one there waiting for me,
To grieve and to mourn and to pity.

And the band played Waltzing Matilda,
As they carried us down the gangway,
But nobody cheered, they just stood there and stared,
And they turned all their faces away.

So now every April I sit on my porch,
And I watch the parade pass before me,
I see my old comrades how proudly they march,
Renewing their dreams of past glory.

I see the old men all tired stiff and sore,
The weary old heros of a forgotten war,
And the young people ask: "What are they marching for?",
And I ask myself the same question.

And the band plays Waltzing Matilda,
And the old men still answer the call,
But year after year the numbers get fewer,
Some day no one will march there at all.

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
Who'll come Waltzing Matilda with me?
And their ghost may be heard as they march by the billabong,
Who'll come a Watzing Matilda with me?

A someone from North America what is ANZAC Day?

I do remember Waltzing Matilda.

Once a jolly swag man camped upon a billabong under the shade of a Koliba tree and he sang as he watched and he waited while his billy boiled you will come a waltzing Matilda with me.

And...


I was Only 19
Mum and Dad and Denny saw the passing-out parade at Puckapunyal
It was a long march from cadets.
The sixth battalion was the next to tour, and it was me who drew the card.
We did Canungra, Shoalwater before we left.

And Townsville lined the footpaths as we marched down to the quay
This clipping from the paper shows us young and strong and clean.
And there's me in my slouch hat with my SLR and greens.
God help me, I was only nineteen.

From Vung Tau, riding Chinooks, to the dust at Nui Dat
I'd been in and out of choppers now for months.
But we made our tents a home, VB and pinups on the lockers
And an Asian orange sunset through the scrub.

And can you tell me, doctor, why I stil can't get to sleep?
And night-time's just a jungle dark and a barking M16?
And what's this rash that comes and goes, can you tell me what it means?
God help me, I was only ninteen.

A four week operation when each step could mean your last one on two legs
It was a war within yourself.
But you wouldn't let your mates down til they had you dusted off
So you closed your eyes and thought about something else.

Then someone yelled out "Contact!" and the bloke behind me swore
We hooked in there for hours, then a Godalmighty roar
Frankie kicked a mine the day that mankind kicked the moon,
God help me, he was going home in June.

I can still see Frankie, drinking tinnies in the Grand Hotel
On a thirty-six hour rec leave in Vung Tau
And I can still hear Frankie, lying screaming in the jungle
Til the morphine came and killed the bloody row.

And the Anzac legends didn't mention mud and blood and tears
And the stories that my father told me never seemed quite real.
I caught some pieces in my back that I didn't even feel
God help me, I was only nineteen.

And can you tell me, doctor, why I still can't get to sleep?
And why the Channel Seven chopper chills me to my feet?
And what's this rash that comes and goes, can you tell me what it means?
God help me, I was only nineteen.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
Lest we forget

Somehow other words are still difficult to find for all those who died in that senseless war - and of course all wars.

A someone from North America what is ANZAC Day?

I do remember Waltzing Matilda.

Once a jolly swag man camped upon a billabong under the shade of a Koliba tree and he sang as he watched and he waited while his billy boiled you will come a waltzing Matilda with me.

ANZAC = Australia New Zealand Army Corps

ANZAC Day is Austalaia & NZ's Memorial Day and Veteran's Day all rolled into one, with a bit of a darker 4th of July...

Somehow other words are still difficult to find for all those who died in that senseless war - and of course all wars.

Lest we forget is the closest I can ever come.

The ANZACs have that straight up right, which is one reason I commemorate today...

Some gave all. I hope you at least get the day off? Best wishes on ANZAC Day if such a thing can be said.

Lest we forget is the closest I can ever come.

The ANZACs have that straight up right, which is one reason I commemorate today...

In the UK the final five lines of Ode to Remembrance are use on Remembrance Sunday (like with ANZAC day it's memorial day and veterans day together) finishing with Lest we forget - never ever fails to choke me up.

I hope you guys at least have cookouts.

Nice one in our wars etc.

aye salutes all round to the courages.

its quite weird how the derogatory name of digger not only caught on but became one of your nations greatest strengths isn't it?

Not the British Empire's finest hour, was Gallipoli.

Not the British Empire's finest hour, was Gallipoli.

'Twas a shambles.

I'm about to leave for the local dawn service at All Nations Park here in Northcote.

Have to say that before my current job (electorate officer) required me to take part I had always been somewhat anti-Anzac Day. I had seen it as glorifying war.

My experience since has shown that the event actually emphasises the futility of it all.

The idea of celebrating something like ANZAC day in the way it is celebrated is as foreign to me as it was the first year I was here. So I don't really partake, not as a token of disrespect, but probably more the opposite. I'd like to think that if I was a soldier in a big war I'd be happiest to see people live free of the emotional consciousness of what happened, just living normally.

I'm about to leave for the local dawn service at All Nations Park here in Northcote.

Have to say that before my current job (electorate officer) required me to take part I had always been somewhat anti-Anzac Day. I had seen it as glorifying war.

My experience since has shown that the event actually emphasises the futility of it all.

This. I went along to the dawn service this morning at the shrine here this morning, but I did not expect to see so much... grief, at the utter senselessness of it all. It's a surprisingly pacifist ceremony. I was pleasantly surprised and deeply moved.

Huh, it's today? I knew it was sometime around now but didn't know the exact date. I used to attend regularly - my mother is big on it - but haven't in recent years because, for all its supposed pacifist trappings, the ones I've been to never seem to mention that part of it. Usually it's just a toxic mix of patriotism and war apologists who drone on and on about how military service makes better people - which, even if I thought it were true, is irrelevant. The point of ANZAC day, to me at least, is that a zillion people died horribly in a pointless, poorly executed attempt to take Turkish positions, and that war bloody sucks. They say "lest we forget", but here at least it always seems like they've already forgotten. [/rant]

Perhaps it's different across the ditch, I don't know.

Huh, it's today? I knew it was sometime around now but didn't know the exact date. I used to attend regularly - my mother is big on it - but haven't in recent years because, for all its supposed pacifist trappings, the ones I've been to never seem to mention that part of it. Usually it's just a toxic mix of patriotism and war apologists who drone on and on about how military service makes better people - which, even if I thought it were true, is irrelevant. The point of ANZAC day, to me at least, is that a zillion people died horribly in a pointless, poorly executed attempt to take Turkish positions, and that war bloody sucks. They say "lest we forget", but here at least it always seems like they've already forgotten. [/rant]

Perhaps it's different across the ditch, I don't know.

Yeah, that's what I always thought it was like. Probably depends on whereabouts you go, what sort of service, country, etc. Which is a shame.

Some gave all. I hope you at least get the day off? Best wishes on ANZAC Day if such a thing can be said.

Best wishes for the nation and those who fell are always appropriate. And yeah, we get Monday off.

A someone from North America what is ANZAC Day?

I do remember Waltzing Matilda.

Once a jolly swag man camped upon a billabong under the shade of a Koliba tree and he sang as he watched and he waited while his billy boiled you will come a waltzing Matilda with me.

ANZAC Day is a day to remember the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought and died at Gallipoli in the first World War.

Best wishes for the nation and those who fell are always appropriate. And yeah, we get Monday off.

Not in Queensland we don't.

ANZAC Day is about remembering those who have fallen for our nation. Whether you agree with the wars in which they fell or not, these people gave their lives for our country. We should honour them.

I marched today with my Girl Guide pack. Even the little 5 year olds in our pack grasped the solemnity of it all. It was amazing to see.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Lest We Forget

Of our national holidays, It is probably the one people use least as an excuse to get outraegously drunk and wear the flag as a cape. That is an indicator of it's meaning to us. It is a day of mourning rather than a day of celebration in many ways.

Lest we forget.

Contrary to the impression given by Britain's recent legislation on settlement of Gurkha veterans in the UK, there is an appreciation of the sacrifice made by all commonwelath troops in the world wars. The more I read of Gallipoli, the worse it seems.

Huh, it's today? I knew it was sometime around now but didn't know the exact date. I used to attend regularly - my mother is big on it - but haven't in recent years because, for all its supposed pacifist trappings, the ones I've been to never seem to mention that part of it. Usually it's just a toxic mix of patriotism and war apologists who drone on and on about how military service makes better people - which, even if I thought it were true, is irrelevant. The point of ANZAC day, to me at least, is that a zillion people died horribly in a pointless, poorly executed attempt to take Turkish positions, and that war bloody sucks. They say "lest we forget", but here at least it always seems like they've already forgotten. [/rant]

Perhaps it's different across the ditch, I don't know.

I've enough Aussie and Kiwi friends and co-workers that I don't forget.

The event I used to go to started off well meaning, but over time devolved into something more akin to Australia Day, and so I don't go anymore.

This afternoon I had a drink with several Aussie friends (couldn't find a Kiwi... :(), breifly explained what today means to the Brits, Canucks, and others present who didn't know, had a short solemn word and "lest we forget", and that was that.

Of our national holidays, It is probably the one people use least as an excuse to get outraegously drunk and wear the flag as a cape. That is an indicator of it's meaning to us. It is a day of mourning rather than a day of celebration in many ways.

Lest we forget.

This is true, although to see the vets getting on it today was quite a unique experience. The nurses' corps from the 2nd world war and the veterans from same I mean.

I marched today with my Girl Guide pack.

ah, the elite Australian girl guides of WWI where the ententes most powerful assets

I think one of the thing that keeps Anzac from veering too far towards glorifying war is that it commemorates what was a complete failure. There was nothing glorious about Gallipoli. It was a disaster from start to finish. There were hundreds of thousands of casualties for no purpose whatsoever.

Also, it's hard to get all rah, rah, rah as the sun is rising. It's a very peaceful, contemplative time of the day.

I'm about to leave for the local dawn service at All Nations Park here in Northcote.

Have to say that before my current job (electorate officer) required me to take part I had always been somewhat anti-Anzac Day. I had seen it as glorifying war.

My experience since has shown that the event actually emphasises the futility of it all.

Do you mean as anti-war?

It certainly isn't one that glorifies war but is meant to be one to remember the fallen diggers who have died in war.

I think one of the thing that keeps Anzac from veering too far towards glorifying war is that it commemorates what was a complete failure. There was nothing glorious about Gallipoli. It was a disaster from start to finish. There were hundreds of thousands of casualties for no purpose whatsoever.

Also, it's hard to get all rah, rah, rah as the sun is rising. It's a very peaceful, contemplative time of the day.

And that is why it will never really be a day of cheering Australia, but Gallipoli is more than simply because it was a disaster which it was no thanks to the British High command, but that campaign did show the world what the Australian mentality was all about.

But then yes it is a day to remember those that have fallen and served Australia and New Zealand and to remember them. Whether you support a particular war or not it is not a day to debate it but rather a day to remember those who died in it.

I think one of the thing that keeps Anzac from veering too far towards glorifying war is that it commemorates what was a complete failure. There was nothing glorious about Gallipoli. It was a disaster from start to finish. There were hundreds of thousands of casualties for no purpose whatsoever.

Also, it's hard to get all rah, rah, rah as the sun is rising. It's a very peaceful, contemplative time of the day.

Sounds like the Battle of Beaumont Hamel for us Newfoundlanders. A battle that once again was commanded by the British High Command in WW1. It went down on July First. But unlike you guys it also Canada Day and young people now a days only celebrate that and Memorial Day had to be moved to the first Sunday after July 1st. Its a shame really.

Also we use the poem Flander Field. Neverless I gald other commonwealth countries remember their dead who died uselessly for the motherland.

I always found it very moving taking part in the 11/11 commemorations when I was a cadet.

During the playing of the Last Post and the reading of Lest We Forget were the only time the colours were allowed to touch the ground and they were dipped and spread across the floor at the base of the Cenotaph, only to be whipped back up at the more rousing finalle to the Last Post. It always struck me as a very poignant moment, remembering the horrors of the past and then looking towards the future with optimism.

Do you mean as anti-war?

It certainly isn't one that glorifies war but is meant to be one to remember the fallen diggers who have died in war.

I'm not sure who or what you are referring to. I'm anti-war. I think that the Anzac Day Commemoration is neither anti- or pro-war. It's a sad, thoughtful occasion.

I'm not sure who or what you are referring to. I'm anti-war. I think that the Anzac Day Commemoration is neither anti- or pro-war. It's a sad, thoughtful occasion.

I was asking if you meant that the service you attended was anti-war when you talked about it showing all the futility of it all.

I only ask because a few years ago one I attended the minister who was leading proceedings talked against the war and all wars and really made the occasion an anti-war affair. Something I found to be wrong and something which the servicemen who were also apart of the ceremony found offensive and was ready to walk off.