[Face Ache]

Today is ANZAC Day in Oz when we remember those who died at Gallipoli in 1915 (and in all wars).

And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
by Eric Bogle

Now when I was a young man I carried me pack
And I lived the free life of the rover.
From the Murray's green basin to the dusty outback,
Well, I waltzed my Matilda all over.
Then in 1915, my country said, "Son,
It's time you stop ramblin', there's work to be done."
So they gave me a tin hat, and they gave me a gun,
And they marched me away to the war.

And the band played "Waltzing Matilda,"
As the ship pulled away from the quay,
And amidst all the cheers, the flag waving, and tears,
We sailed off for Gallipoli.

And how well I remember that terrible day,
How our blood stained the sand and the water;
And of how in that hell that they call Suvla Bay
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter.
Johnny Turk, he was waitin', he primed himself well;
He showered us with bullets, and he rained us with shell --
And in five minutes flat, he'd blown us all to hell,
Nearly blew us right back to Australia.

But the band played "Waltzing Matilda,"
When we stopped to bury our slain,
Well, we buried ours, and the Turks buried theirs,
Then we started all over again.

And those that were left, well, we 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 woke up in me hospital bed
And saw what it had done, well, I wished I was dead --
Never knew there was worse things than dying.

For I'll go no more "Waltzing Matilda,"
All around the green bush far and free --
To hump tents and pegs, a man needs both legs,
No more "Waltzing Matilda" for me.

So they gathered the crippled, the wounded, the maimed,
And they shipped us back home to Australia.
The armless, the legless, the blind, the insane,
Those proud wounded heroes of Suvla.
And as our ship sailed into Circular Quay,
I looked at the place where me legs used to be,
And thanked Christ there was nobody waiting for me,
To grieve, to mourn and to pity.

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

And so now every April, I sit on my porch
And I watch the parade pass before me.
And I see my old comrades, how proudly they march,
Reviving old dreams of past glory,
And the old men march slowly, all bones stiff and sore,
They're tired old heroes from a forgotten war
And the young people ask "What are they marching for?"
And I ask meself the same question.

But the band plays "Waltzing Matilda,"
And the old men still answer the call,
But as year follows year, more old men disappear
Someday, no one will march there at all.

Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda.
Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?
And their ghosts may be heard as they march by the billabong,
Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?

This was the first ANZAC day with no survivors of Gallipoli. They're all dead now.

[veryniceguy2002]

Originally posted by Face Ache:
Today is ANZAC Day in Oz when we remember those who died at Gallipoli in 1915 (and in all wars).

This was the first ANZAC day with no survivors of Gallipoli. They're all dead now.

Well, don't forget our Kiwi brothers who fought alongside with us in Gallipoli!

BTW, if anyone who wants to know more what ANZAC day is, here is a very good web page from the AUstralian War Memorial:

http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/anzac/


Lest we forget.

[mmurray]

Originally posted by Face Ache:
Today is ANZAC Day in Oz when we remember those who died at Gallipoli in 1915 (and in all wars).

This was the first ANZAC day with no survivors of Gallipoli. They're all dead now.

Actually in my experience ANZAC day remembers all enlisted Australian and New Zealand soldiers who died in wars and sometimes our allies. The enemy soldiers and civilians get a mention occasionally but not too often.

Correct me if I am wrong - I would like to think ANZAC day had improved since my school days.

In Adelaide today two guys got a banner removed from them by the police as it wasn't `official'. Ironically it seemed to say something really outrageous like `Don't forget the lads in Iraq'.

Michael

[Zoom_zoom]

Ahh yes ANZAC day, i have been up since 3.30am to go to the dawn service in my town, Then Participated in the Anzac Marches, with my Grandad's war medals (from WW2) and my dad with his Grandad's War medals (from WW1) it was a good day. Then some more Services in different towns and another march.

May god bless those who have Fought for our Country, and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice lest We Forget.

[veryniceguy2002]

Originally posted by mmurray:
Actually in my experience ANZAC day remembers all enlisted Australian and New Zealand soldiers who died in wars and sometimes our allies. The enemy soldiers and civilians get a mention occasionally but not too often.

Not only enlisted soldiers, many of the soldiers went to war volunteered (e.g. the only ANZACs in WWI and the ones in the Gulf War)

Correct me if I am wrong - I would like to think ANZAC day had improved since my school days.

Not sure what you mean by "improved"??

[Montanan]

Though I'm not from Australia or New Zealand, I've wanted for years to make the pilgrimage to Gallipoli on ANZAC Day ... it sounds like a truly remarkable and memorable experience.

[DBursey]

The small cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula stormed and occupied by ANZAC in 1915 was renamed "Anzac Cove" by the Turkish Government following the war, in honour of the men they fought there. For an invaded party to re-name a portion of its territory in honour of a wartime foe is likely an unprecedented act of respect for the courage and sacrifice witnessed by the Turks in the ranks of the ANZAC.

.... And the young people ask "What are they marching for?"
And I ask meself the same question.

Thanks Face. Love the song. I used to play it in the pubs long ago, before I pulled a Dylan and went electric.

[Hornet]

Lest we forget.


A moment of silence please, to honour those who fought for our land, aussie and nz troops together.




Lest we forget