Australians (& Kiwis)

gajinoz

gajinoz

Joined
Sep 2, 2003
Messages
11,650
I'm sure you know what next Sunday is. Hopefully you will be getting along to watch your local march and showing your support and appreciation.


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For others who might not know and may be interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anzac_Day


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I hope to observe ANZAC day in my own special way. Get out into nature and soak up this great nation that I know thousands died defending.

Also - big shout out to those currently serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, especially the SASR - they always pay the dearest price it seems.
 
Thanks gaj.

I'm going into the city to commemorate ANZAC day.
 
Looks like I'm ready for the weekend.

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It's a good thing that OZ is so far away or you would be invading us like the Canadians. Eh?

:D






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Sadly three NZ Air Force officers died today (ANZAC Day) in a helicopter crash.
This is tragic on any day, especially for a country our size but ofcourse more poignant now considering it happened on ANZAC.

Please pray for the fourth Airman who is in critical condition fighting for his life in the hospital.


Iroquois crash puts damper on well-attended Anzac Day
4:45 PM Sunday Apr 25, 2010

Wreaths are laid on the cenotaph at Christchurch's Cathedral Square. Photo / NZPAAnzac Day commemorations have been hit by tragedy in New Zealand at the news three Air Force officers set to take part in Wellington services lost their lives in a helicopter crash.

Tens of thousands of New Zealanders gathered at dawn services around the country to remember the New Zealanders who lost their lives at Gallipoli in 1915 and in other military engagements since.

But those who have been attending all Anzac Day events held after the dawn services have also been mourning the Air Force members whose Iroquois helicopter crashed shortly before 6am at Pukerua Bay, 40km north of Wellington, on the way to Anzac Day events in the capital.

Co-pilot Flying Officer Daniel Stephen Gregory, 28, crewman Corporal Benjamin Andrew Carson, 25, and pilot Flight Lieutenant Hayden Peter Madsen, 33, were found dead at the crash site. A fourth man was airlifted to Wellington Hospital, where he remains in a serious condition.

Most attending the dawn services had no knowledge of the crash but Returned Services Association (RSA) chief executive Dr Stephen Clarke said it saddened the mood at all subsequent events.

"I've just left the Ataturk Memorial Turkish ceremony in Wellington, which was one of those services which the Iroquois was meant to fly over," Dr Clarke told NZPA.

"That's definitely put a dampener on the day."

Dr Clarke said RSA chief executive Robin Klitscher, who is in Turkey for services at Gallipoli, had sent his condolences to the Air Force.

Services have been well attended with the dawn service at Auckland reportedly attracting 15,000 people, Dr Clarke said.

The Auckland service at Auckland War Memorial Museum paid extra respect this year to the Australians who fought alongside the New Zealanders at Gallipoli.

For the first time, Advance Australia Fair was sung by the choir at the service, something which is expected to happen every year, and the Australian flag flew at the ceremony.

"That reflects a call in parts of Australia as well to acknowledge the NZ in Anzac. It was very strong in Queensland earlier in the year, and that put the spotlight on how we acknowledge the A in Anzac," Dr Clarke said.

"It's most appropriate that on this day the ribbing between the two nations is put aside somewhat and we can really enjoy and celebrate that bond, and I think that'll be important as we head towards the centenary (of the Gallipoli landing)."

The New Zealand Transport Agency also flew the Australian flag on the Auckland Harbour Bridge after a decision by the Government following a request from a member of the public.

It is one of only two days when flags other than the New Zealand flag fly on the bridge, the other day being Waitangi Day when the "tino rangatiratanga" flag flies.

Dr Clarke also said it was important to remember it was an important day for the Turkish people, whose forces were trying to fend off the Anzac troops in 1915.

"They do have their own day, the 18th of March, which is the equivalent of our Anzac Day, but increasingly they are acknowledging and part of their culture is to host guests and that's obviously increasing around Anzac Day, the 25th of April, as well."

Auckland Mayor John Banks told the service in his city that the Gallipoli campaign caused profound misery and palpable grief to New Zealanders and Australians.

He said the services also remembered New Zealanders who lost their lives in other battles such as the Somme, Messines and Passchendaele.

"We do not seek to glorify war. Rather, we are here to honour and reflect on the service that so many men and women gave to our country.

"As the sun rises this morning, we turn our eyes to the glory that surrounds the memory for those who died for this nation in the honourable pursuit of peace."

At the Wellington dawn service, Army chief Major General Rhys Jones said Anzac Day was not a celebration.

"Anzac Day is a time to remember and reflect on the sorrow, loss and sacrifice that is the obligation of nationhood, the cost of liberty and the price of freedom."

About 3000 were estimated to have been at Wellington, while crowds were at record levels in Christchurch.

"I would say there was more than last year," BJ Clark of the Papanui RSA said of the Christchurch dawn service at Cathedral Square.

"It just keeps increasing every year. I don't know where they come from."

Significant crowds were also reported at other towns and cities throughout New Zealand.

- NZPA
 
Emanuel said:
Sadly three NZ Air Force officers died today (ANZAC Day) in a helicopter crash.
This is tragic on any day, especially for a country our size but ofcourse more poignant now considering it happened on ANZAC.
Click to expand...

Extremely sad news mate, a tragedy for NZ, especially today. My thoughts are with the friends and families of those who died.
 
Anzac Day here in the Northern Territory draws to a close. Like most parts of Australia the Dawn Service and march drew huge crowds. This part of the Australian tradition continues to gather strength and is one of the more optimistic social trends.

One of the speakers at the Dawn Service drew attention to individuals from the Territory that had served in the various campaigns. Of note is the well known (locally anyway) legend of Albert Borella and the lengths he went to to enlist in WW1 in a remote place that had no enlistment centres.

"At the outbreak of World War I the military authorities were not accepting volunteers from the Northern Territory. Borella accepted a job as a cook for a survey party in Tennant Creek and in January 1915 Borella set out for Darwin to volunteer for active service. With Charlie, an Aboriginal man, he walked 88 miles (140 km) and swam across flooded rivers. After borrowing a horse at Powell Creek, just north of Renner Springs, Northern Territory, he rode to Katherine where he caught the mail coach to the railhead at Pine Creek. He sailed from Darwin to Townsville on 8 March 1915 with four other men who were among the first 15 volunteers for active service from the Northern Territory."

Albert fought at Gallipoli and later in France where he was awarded the Military Medal and later the Victoria Cross where the following deeds were cited.

'For most conspicuous bravery in attack. Whilst leading his platoon with the first wave, Lieutenant Borella marked an enemy machine gun firing through our barrage. He ran out ahead of his men into the barrage, shot two German machine gunners with his revolver, and captured the gun. He then led his party, now reduced to ten men and two Lewis guns, against a very strongly held trench, using his revolver, and later a rifle, with great effect, causing many enemy casualties. His leading and splendid example resulted in the garrison being quickly shot or capturred. Two large dug outs were also bombed, and thirty prisoners taken. Subsequently the enemy twice counter attacked in strong force, on the second occasion outnumbering Lieutenant Borella's platoon by ten to one, but his cool determination inspired his men to resist heroically, and the enemy were repulsed, with very heavy losses.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 23

Albert was wounded but survived the war. He re-enlisted for WW2 but his service was confined to Australia. He lived a good life and died in 1968 at the age of 86.

All of these great and humble men from that war are now gone. I count myself lucky that I had the privilege to have known some of them.
 
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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.

I was unable to attend a service but sounded the last post this morning...my grandfather was in WWII and he has been my role model predominantly growing up, my respect goes to all who gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.
 
True to my word I drove out to Bunyip State Park today and shared a quiet moment with my girlfriend next to a camp fire sheltering under a tarp from the rain.

My thoughts go out to the families of lost loved ones who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I know that obeying the order to go over the top and charge is no less valorous than driving down a city street in Iraq but it makes me angry that we've lost so many to cowardly remote devices rather than meeting the enemy on the field.
 
Digger (soldier)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digger_%28soldier%29

Digger is an Australian and New Zealand military slang term for soldiers from Australia and New Zealand. It originated during World War I.

There are numerous theories about the origin of the term. Before the war, the term "digger" had been widely used in Australasia to mean a miner, or a Kauri gum-digger in New Zealand. On 25 April 1915, General Sir Ian Hamilton sent a message to the commander of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), General William Birdwood, following the landing at Gallipoli. It contained the postscript: "P.S.—You have got through the difficult business, now you have only to dig, dig, dig, until you are safe." However, there is no hard evidence to support the theory that Hamilton's message is the reason why digger was applied to ANZAC troops in general. W. H. Downing, in Digger Dialects (1919), a glossary of words and phrases used by Australian personnel during the war, says that Digger was first used to mean a New Zealand or Australian soldier in 1916. It appears to have become popular among New Zealand troops, before being adopted by Australians. The word was not in wide use amongst soldiers until 1917. One other theory is the fact that ANZAC troops were especially good at digging tunnels between their own trenches and the enemies, and were regarded by both sides as diggers, one being derogatory and the other more in jest. The job of digging between the trenches was very hard, especially when both sides' diggers met in the tunnels. ANZACS believed that it was a compliment to be referred to diggers, because it indicated you were good at a very difficult job.

While New Zealanders would call each other "Digger", all other nationalities, including Australians, tended to call them "Kiwis". The equivalent slang for a British soldier was "Tommy" from Tommy Atkins. However, while the Anzacs would happily refer to themselves as "Diggers", British soldiers generally resented being called "Tommy"[citation needed].

Throughout Australia when one refers to "digger", one is referring to the Australian Army.

Between 1998 and 2003, the term was used in the name of a team in the Victorian Football League, the Bendigo Diggers. This was partly in reference to Bendigo's history as a centre of the gold-mining industry. The team changed its nickname to "Bombers" when it became a feeder club for Essendon. In 2001, Athletics Australia suggested that it would use "Diggers" as the nickname of the Australian athletics team. The proposal was withdrawn after a public outcry and protest from the Returned and Services League of Australia.

John Campbell Ross (11 March 1899 – 3 June 2009) was, at the time of his death, Australia's oldest person and the last Australian veteran of the First World War.


Lest we forget
 
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