I thought I'd do an ANZAC Day post. I know its been sent late, sorry Graham. I think it important we have at least one specifically ANZAC Day remembrance post to focus on and maybe comment on.

The following song, variously called "The Green Fields of France", "No Man's Land" and "Willie McBride" was written in 1976 by Scottish-born Australian folk singer-songwriter Eric Bogle. http://web.archive.org/web/19991012200828/http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/parton/2/noman.html

It is likely Eric was working as an accountant for the Australian Public Service, in Fyshwick, Canberra, when he took time off from his ledger to write this deeply moving song. Time well spent.

In the song a man (or woman) stands by the grave-side of 19 year old, Willie McBride, reflecting on Willie's death, in World War I.

Willie McBride could have come from anywhere, including Australia and New Zealand.

Willie could have fought as an ANZAC at Gallipoli in 1915, survived, only to be killed by a German bullet on the Western Front in 1916.

Here is "The Green Fields of France" sung by Ireland's Niall Hanna and Niamh Farrell: http://youtu.be/oL2U6QX49DQ .

Pete

Each ANZAC day I drag out my now battered copy of Robert Graves' "Goodbye to All That" and reread selected passages about his WW1 experiences in the French trenches.

It was a different time and different values. 20 year olds living in horrendous conditions yet still prepared to 'go over the top' for their mates and their country.

20 yr olds today need to be protected from Pepe Le Pew.

Hi mhaze

Some impressions:

1. Re: "20 yr olds today need to be protected from Pepe Le Pew." Thats a difficult one. The odd Colonel has said to me:

"What Australia needs is a good short war, like the Falklands, to toughen up the youth of today."

2. But which youth? The youth at Uni, often immature and sensitive?
The less military adept youth that, once conscripted, often failed the tests, or were obviously not soldier material, hence were told NOT to go to Vietnam?

Too young for Vietnam, I was exactly the immature, Uni student type during my time in the University Regiment Army Reserve days (1980-84) in which time I "rose" to full Private.

3. What of the many women reservists who could fire their M16s/AR15s better than most men and who were just busting to prove themselves in a war zone.

Some women excelled in their Iraq/Afghanistan warzones. Admin/support/comms/intelligence can be done by female soldiers without carrying the heavy loads on patrol (heavy (eg. 45kgs) load carrying meaning only men are usually suited to patrols).

4. Young male soldiers who have a tough home life till 15, join-up when they're 16-18, have often matured fast making the best soldiers.

5. Still the trend today is to leave highly skilled-vulnerable patrolling to Special Forces ie Commandos/SAS who have aleady been in the army for 6 years and first go to Afghanistan when they're 24 (not 19). They have lower total casualties as they're better-longer trianed and do repeat tours.

6. Sometines up to 9 Afgh "kill or capture" tours. Once back in the "real world of peaceful suburbia" too much time on high adrenalin and alienation from civilian life can lead to PTSD and suicide.

Whats better or worse for soldiers?

The Dawn Service in Melbourne will be held
tomorrow at the Shrine of Rememberance with only
1,400 people allowed to attend.

The RSL has asked for those staying at home to
light a candle and observe a minute's silence
for those unable to attend any of the services.
Which is what my husband and I will do to honour
the fallen and all those who served in Australia's
military.

" They shall not grow 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.

It is a good thing, and hopefully a sign of the times, that we have not had the usual Australia-hating Commos blathering about militarism, racism and white supremacy in the main forum during the week leading up to Anzac Day.

Hi Foxy, tt and mahaze

Its great you're commenting guys.

Eric Bogle is also famous for "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" but that was a little too soldiers only and Gallipoli specific for what wanted to say. What I wanted to say is that Anzac Day is about ALL wars Australians from all three services (airmen, sailors and soldiers) have fought in, died in, and come back alive.

But there are very apt lyrics from Bogle's "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" which are particularly relevant to Australians who didn't die in war, some carry tragic physical and mental scars (the latter often hidden, but comes back to bite). My own Dad, a regular army officer who fought in Vietnam, had PTSD to an extent. He couldn't watch "Platoon" about that war, without being deeply upset after watching it. He relied on me to calm him down - although I was a shiithouse soldier myself.

Here is "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" written and sung here by Eric Bogle http://youtu.be/WG48Ftsr3OI

The lines about returning Australian soldiers wounded, in so many ways are:

"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 dyin'

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

MORE LYRICS BELOW