Hi o sung wu, only have vague recollections of the old uncle, for no reason he would hit us kids on the head with his rolled up newspaper. Vaguely recalling things like "The Turk wasn't a bad sort, only defending his homeland" and "Those Pommy officers were terrible B's" he would say.

The only stories of the war itself from uncle I can recall was about boys "going over the top" as he would call it, the poor buggers he would say, "It was better to be in the first lot than the second! because the first lot didn't know what was coming, the second mob, well they knew alright!" He spoke of boys, always called them boys, he spoke of the drinking of rum before the fight, a soldiers mug full, some needing a second cup, drunk charging into battle, boys crying and wetting their pants in the trenchs beforehand, (the pommy they could have been Australian) officers standing with sidearms at the ready to drive the "cowards" up the ladders and into the fight. I think that war made uncle a very bitter man for the rest of his life. After auntie died, he never recovered from the loss, he then took to heavy drinking and died an alcoholic.

Hi (again) Paul1405...

As did my Grandfather he was addicted to the Morphine the Doctors in England put him on in order to relieve his dreadful wounds and damaged lungs as a result of Mustard Gas. Upon reflection, I must admit: 'To go over the top' as it were; I don't know if I'd have the courage, knowing that a whole group of German machine guns awaited you?

Well 'SPECIAL DELIVERY' you have a point, one that I don't necessarily agree with. That said I'm really against all forms of 'Jingoism' I find it utterly nauseating. This nonsense the Aussie Digger was the best, the bravest, the fastest etc etc - is nonsense. 'We all bleed when where're cut' and I'm speaking metaphorically of course.

We, like all Nations have good, average, and bad soldiers, but they all do their best and some lose their lives in doing so. For that reason alone, they deserve this Country's greatest admiration & recognition for giving their lives for the Nation, in whatever Peacekeeping role or conflict they may be involved.

That's why we have an entire Federal Government Department, 'The Department of Veterans Affairs' (DVA), dedicated exclusively to looking after all Australian Veterans. And as it should be, for without our Servicemen & Women, out country would be soon overrun by any Nation with a mind to do so. Therefore all of us must remember;. 'Lest we Forget' on the 25 April 2018.

Also 'Special Delivery' some folk don't know what ANZAC stands for...'Australia New Zealand Army Corps'. Thanks for your contribution too. I appreciate it.

'This nonsense the Aussie Digger was the best'
Where did I say the Aussie Digger was the best?....I missed that part?
'some folk don't know what ANZAC stands for...'Australia New Zealand Army Corps'
which was back with WW1 with a resurgence in WW2 to sucker Australians back into another European fiasco and leave Australia open to a possible invasion.
I also remember National Service, courtesy of a lottery, where we were being shanghaied to Vietnam and then seeing soldiers in beds around around me in the hospital in Brisbane, with pieces of them missing, who never got their country's admiration and when it did come, it came begrudgingly simply because the RSL was getting thin on the ground at marches.
What was that you said about 'jingoism'?

Hi there SPECIAL DELIVERY...

With respect I would ask you to re-read my latest post. I was speaking in generalities, not referring to any particular point about you; other than I didn't necessarily agree with you. By inference you seem to imply you don't have much truck with the RSL, well neither do I.

I must say you seem quite angry about the whole notion of ANZAC Day, why may I ask? Are you a Veteran yourself of the Vietnam era? I shall patiently await your reply SPECIAL DELIVERY.

No I'm not a Vietnam vet, fortunately. I was in hospital getting a knee reconstruct when my platoon left Laverack Barracks for Vietnam. A war that wasn't a war but a conflict where people died and got maimed just the same.
In basic training I remember being told not to ask questions as to the legitimacy of our Vietnam involvement because they would upset the conscripts. Got charged, fined and kitchen duties for a week.
National Service was good in the sense that it made all aware that Australia was 'all of us' even if 'all of us' weren't Wasps.
When the govt saw that National Service had a detrimental side in that it galvanized youth and made them more vocal in their opinions not to mention the educational inequality in the ranks, it was scrapped.
But that didn't stop the 'merican bum kissing in future conflicts.
As far as the RSL, who once served a purpose, are no longer of any real significance and have been consigned to a 'once was' status.
If I resent anything it's that 'Australians' talk about being self determined and still remain cannon fodder and hole diggers.
The closest they came was the Eureka Stockade and nothing since then other than Whitlam and he was his own worst enemy.....when he looked behind him there was no one there.
ANZAC....do you see any mention of the UK and US in there?....well neither do I.

Hi (again) SPECIAL DELIVERY...

I get the sense you're really angry about those days, and the way our Country was literally abandoned by both the UK Govt. & the United States Govt. That was until the US wanted to use as as cannon fodder for Vietnam. I was a Veteran myself with one basic difference, I was a regular thus a Volunteer not a conscript. I must say the conscripts with whom I served, were by and large, brilliant soldiers and prepared to do anything that was asked of them.

I think ANZAC Day is a Day especially for our veterans, both those still living and those who've passed. Honouring & commemorating their service and the many sacrifices they're made in times of War. People forget, the soldiers didn't send themselves to Vietnam, or any other war zone; their governments did.

All they were responsible for, is carrying out orders. For this reason, I think it's morally wrong, that those groups who oppose any of these conflicts, should take it out on the servicemen themselves, when they should be targeting those who send them. I'm losing concentration; for that I'm sorry. I shall sign off if you don't mind.

Thanks again SPECIAL DELIVERY.

Thank you all, who've contributed to this Topic; I think it's run it's course by now.