Monday, April 25, 2005

ANZAC Day - "Lest We Forget"

"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.
.
Lest we forget."

April 25th, marks ANZAC day in Australian and New Zealand. On this day in 1915, members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed on the shores of Gallipoli in Turkey.

In a military encounter which was poorly executed, the Australians and New Zealanders were blown off-course and rather than landing on a beach with low hills, landed at what is now known as ANZAC Cove. A beach surrounded by towering hills with almost verticle cliffs. With the Turks well dug in, the ANZAC's were "butchered like lambs at the slaughter".

The journey to ANZAC Cove at Gallipoli has become a pilgimage for Australians. An estimated 16,000 attended the dawn service today. Each year the numbers of visitors grows.

ANZAC Day is not a day to celebrate war. The destruction of so many lives is not something to celebrate. ANZAC Day is the day we remember and thank those that served their country.

For those who served, whether voluntarily or by conscription. For those who served during war or peacekeeping times. For those that returned and those that did not. Regardless of personal views for or against each of the conflicts we have been involved in. Today is the day that Australians and New Zealanders say thank you.

"And the band played Waltzing Matilda" (C) Eric Bogle.

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
I waltzed my Matilda all over
Then in 1915 my country said: Son,
It's time to stop rambling, there's work to be done
So they gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun
And they sent me away to the war
.
And the band played Waltzing Matilda
When the ship pulled away from the quay
And amid all the tears, flag waving and cheers
We sailed off for Gallipoli
.
Well I remember that terrible day
When our blood stained the sand and the water
And how in that hell they call Suvla Bay
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter
Johnny Turk, he was ready, he primed himself well
He rained us with bullets, and he showered us with shell
And in five minutes flat, we were all blown to hell
He nearly blew us back home to Australia
.
And the band played Waltzing Matilda
When we stopped to bury our slain
Well we buried ours and the Turks buried theirs
Then it started all over again
Oh those that were living just tried to survive
In that mad world of blood, death and fire
And for ten weary weeks I kept myself alive
While around me the corpses piled higher
.
Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over head
And when I awoke in me hospital bed
And saw what it had done, I wished I was dead
I never knew there was worse things than dying
Oh no more I'll go Waltzing Matilda
All around the green bush far and near
For to hump tent and pegs, a man needs both legs
No more waltzing Matilda for me
.
They collected the wounded, the crippled, the maimed
And they shipped us back home to Australia
The armless, the legless, the blind and the insane
Those proud wounded heroes of Suvla
And when the ship pulled into Circular Quay
I looked at the place where me legs used to be
And thank Christ there was no one there waiting for me
To grieve and to mourn and to pity
.
And the Band played Waltzing Matilda
When they carried us down the gangway
Oh nobody cheered, they just stood there and stared
Then they turned all their faces away
.
Now every April I sit on my porch
And I watch the parade pass before me
I see my old comrades, how proudly they march
Renewing their dreams of past glories
I see the old men all tired, stiff and worn
Those weary old heroes of a forgotten war
And the young people ask "What are they marching for?"
And I ask myself the same question
.
And the band plays Waltzing Matilda
And the old men still answer the call
But year after year, their numbers get fewer
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
So who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?
.
Rather than no-one marching there at all, the Returned Services League allowed the children and relatives of deceased soldiers to march in their place. The annual march has grown in size and has become one of the most important days on the Australian and New Zealand calendars.
.
"Lest we Forget"