Anzac day

Here in Australia and New Zealand, it's Anzac Day.
To all those ex service men and women, and to all current serving personnel, have a good one, just remember to watch out for the little bloke with the big hammer, that hides in the bottom of the barrel.

There are a few Anzac day shoots around the country today and on the weekends either side, commerative shoots where the Lee Enfield shines once again, so dust them off and give them a burl, they are just as important a part of our history as the men and women that used them.
Lest we Forget.

Today is the day to remember the Servicemen who were issued the very rifles that we now collect and shoot.

Whilst their rifles survive, we preserve their memory.

ANZAC Cove in Gallipoli...Took these many years ago.
Attachment 33202Attachment 33203Attachment 33204Attachment 33205

Interesting that Australia is going to make a big deal of the 100 anniversary of this. I'm not sure if I remember anyone doing something similar. I wonder what the folks who started the first anzac day would think, seeing as they were directly connected to the men who fought and these generations are now quite distant.

Check out TWOSTEAM's thread in General Discussions.

Few photos in there to make the folk from Down Under drool just a bit: some souvenirs from Villers-Bretonneux.

Canadians are pretty good scroungers: we got the Jerry tank ammo and the Railway stamp, but the Aussies grabbed a whole bl**dy TANK! Only A7V in the world came out of this fight.

Canadians were there, of course.

A good day to remember.
.

So what are you saying Rog?

I have some sand from Gallipoli on my desk - it sits beside sand from Iwo Jima, Vietnam, and Iraq.

And to my Mates from "A" Co 3 RAR who blessed me with adoption a few years ago on this date.

Semper Fidelis -

Would you like some sand from the Kasserine Pass, Tunisia ?

I'd like some Sands of Time so I could send my self back.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by muffett.2008

So what are you saying Rog?

---

Interesting that Australia is going to make a big deal of the 100 anniversary of this. I'm not sure if I remember anyone doing something similar. I wonder what the folks who started the first anzac day would think, seeing as they were directly connected to the men who fought and these generations are now quite distant.

I'm not sure, perhaps I was just indulging a nagging doubt that its becoming a bit sensationalized, like perhaps the politicians or the media are using it to play us, but on balance Australia has plenty of current experience of soldiers away from home and at war with service in Afghanistan so I'm sure the sentiment of people is genuine.

When I was in Oz for ANZAC Day I was very impressed by the people and the turnout for the parade and the time with mates after. It starts early, sunrise service, placing of wreaths, to the main parade in Adelaide. I believe they care as much about their veterans as do others countries. The thing that astounded me was they deploy their folks in units and bring them home together. So marching with the 3 RAR meant that everyone in that formation served together and knew each other.

I really enjoyed it - - - and the people are very genuine I thought. If they had some decent gun laws I'd live there - - well if my wife and kids didn't cripple me up for thinking the thought anyway -