ANZAC Day 2021 for me

Held a small home vigil today in remembrance of all our soldiers that went away never to return not only in the Great War and WWII but all other conflicts as well.
It was so poignant today a misty cold morning with the Magpies warbling as they do with the cheeky "Willy Wagtails" chirping as only they can, these are the sounds of the Australian bush where I live.
So many lads that went away never had the opportunity to hear those sounds again and for their sacrifice I remain eternally loyal to remembering them, like so many of us here do.
My dad (Dec 1985)went away in WWII like many others and I guess he was lucky to return home again whilst so many other families lost their loved ones.

In WWI "For Australia, the First World War remains the costliest conflict in terms of deaths and casualties. From a population of fewer than five million, 416,809 men enlisted, of whom more than 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner". The latest figure for those killed is given as 62,000 21 Mar 2021.

My single candle in the driveway this morning with a bit of fog and the early signs of dawn approaching whilst I stood in quiet reflection.
Sorry for the grainy pic but only have an I-phone 4
LEST WE FORGET
(We have had another Covid o/break so there are area lock downs enforced not for us here but I took no chances.)

If one counts all those who died in the 1920's as a result from their WW1 service the true casualty figures will probably never be known.

The influenza of 1919 decimated the poor beggars that survived the horrors of that conflict only to be killed by that now that is a tragedy.

Yes that's true. I was thinking of those that died from the affects of being gassed some time after the end of WW1.

Lest we Forget.

We spent ours at the local memorial, a big crowd this year given the lockdown last year. A nice touch from the local aerodrome, a spitfire (or a hurricane- not 100% sure) passing overhead.

Looks like being my father in laws last outing for these. He's a Japan Occupation Force, Korean War and Malaya vet (2RAR), and while the mind is willing, he's getting pretty frail..

Sadly soon all our WWII vets will be a distant memory as the WWI vets are now being sadly lost to the sands of time, all that remains now are the memorials, printed matter and some rare films of their deeds and sacrifices.
It will then be the vets from Korea, VN and so on the best we can do as public citizens is to ensure that the years rolling by none of those that serve, have served or paid the ultimate price are ever forgotten by the Australian public.