ANZAC Day. For one and all. And some Footy.

[Suitman]

Just hoping that we all remember what ANZAC day is about.
It's not a celebration, but a commemoration and Remembrance Day.
I have long lost family members from both my recently deceased dad and my mum, who's relo's were casualties of war. I have no doubt that other's do as well.
Namely, WW2 for my folks, but even as far back as WW1 for even my parents families.
I'm looking forward to the two games tomorrow, but at the same time, I always feel a bit sad about Anzac Day games.
However which way we all spend the day tomorrow, I hope that we don't forget why tomorrow is at the very least, a day of public remembrance.

 

[TheParraboy]

Lest we forget

 

[the phantom menace]

Indeed. And also remembering the more recent servicemen and women too, including those that served in Korea and Vietnam (often through no choice of their own) and those involved in conflicts and service since (as part of a chosen career).

Lest we forget.

 

[Gronk]

I didn’t grow up with any direct exposure to war, but learnt through doing the ancestry.com thing that my uncle Walter Godfrey <. >. went to war age 18 from his little home in Carcoar and quickly found himself in France and Belgium on the western front. f**k imagine that.



At age 21 he was wounded and I have witness papers saying that orders were given to retreat, he was left in a fox hole to die.

He is buried (?) well a memorial is acknowledged at Chem. du Mont de la Hutte, Comines-Warneton, Belgium. Must go there one day.

When my dad was growing up the Vietnam War was on and many of his mates were sent away. Those who were left were called up into the reserves. Dad called it “nashos” which I assume was short for National Service. They were based at Victoria Barracks (Paddington) which was close to home because he was a eshay from Chippendale. They switched him around a bit and he ended up in the Scottish regiment, still at Victoria Barracks. At one point they had to get ready for a formal parade and gave out the fancy clobber which included a kilt. No way was a kid from Chippendale wearing a dress ! So the commanding officer warned him and his mate that if they don’t get changed ready for parade they will spend every day in the brink until they do. So they did. Every day after that until the end of nashos, my dad and his mate slept in the brink and during the day they sat under a tree smoking cigarettes. Funny in a way but also a bit of a dickhead, Dad.

 

[Chipmunk]

I actually went to Gallipoli in Turkey for the 100th anniversary of the landing on ANZAC Day in 2015.

 

[Gronk]

I actually went to Gallipoli in Turkey for the 100th anniversary of the landing on ANZAC Day in 2015.

I would cry like a mother f**ker going to a place like that.

 

[King-Gutho94]

I actually went to Gallipoli in Turkey for the 100th anniversary of the landing on ANZAC Day in 2015.

Would love to get to Gallipoli one day.

 

[Chipmunk]

I would cry like a mother f**ker going to a place like that.

It was an interesting experience, but I think because it was essentially just vacant beach land and hills when the battle was undertaken, and it has been so long since then, and that the area is still pretty vacant except for the actual memorial sites, it is difficult to get the full picture of what might have gone on there.

Although looking at the beach and the hills above, they were sitting ducks, I'm surprised everyone wasn't killed.

To be honest, you get more of a feeling and understanding of the trauma of war in places like Dachau and Auschwitz concentration camps in Germany and Poland, and the Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh in Cambodia. I think because the actual buildings are still standing, and many rooms are still intact and exactly they way they were from when they were used, you get a better understanding and emotions. There are even survivors who were imprisoned at the site at what is now the Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, who you can meet and buy a book about their story. There was something like only six adult survivors of this place by the end of the Khmer Rouge, it was a bit freaky to see the photos and read these stories in the Museum and then see these people there at the end. I don't know how they can go near the place again, let alone turn up every day and be a part of the exhibition.

 

[Chipmunk]

Would love to get to Gallipoli one day.

It's worth visiting, being part of a dawn service there on ANZAC Day is quite special, but even to visit anytime would be worth doing.

 

[Gronk]

It was an interesting experience, but I think because it was essentially just vacant beach land and hills when the battle was undertaken, and it has been so long since then, and that the area is still pretty vacant except for the actual memorial sites, it is difficult to get the full picture of what might have gone on there.

Although looking at the beach and the hills above, they were sitting ducks, I'm surprised everyone wasn't killed.

To be honest, you get more of a feeling and understanding of the trauma of war in places like Dachau and Auschwitz concentration camps in Germany and Poland, and the Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh in Cambodia. I think because the actual buildings are still standing, and many rooms are still intact and exactly they way they were from when they were used, you get a better understanding and emotions. There are even survivors who were imprisoned at the site at what is now the Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, who you can meet and buy a book about their story. There was something like only six adult survivors of this place by the end of the Khmer Rouge, it was a bit freaky to see the photos and read these stories in the Museum and then see these people there at the end. I don't know how they can go near the place again, let alone turn up every day and be a part of the exhibition.

Yeah we have been to Auschwitz. FMD

 

[Twizzle]

Lest we forget.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

You're welcome, merkins.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Unless we forget