Anzac 2015

[j.sabourn]

Maybe hoping when they take over a country may find a few of their bonds they can burn Les.. JS

[happy daze john in oz]

AS said by others the Anzac 'myth' has grown legs here in Oz. There were many countries involved in Galipoli but i think the story of it as written by Les Carlyon though a very comprehensive account of the event, including the involement of Churchill and the resignation by a senior war minister because of this, has added fuel to the fire. The younger generation are no wtaking up the cause and it is mainnly they who go to Galipoli for the service. We cannot undo what has been done but we can tell the true story and in my oppion the book by Carlyon does just that, warts and all.

[Keith at Tregenna]

It is disgusting the way the Merchant Navy gets ignored I have wrote to our local newspaper a number of times but all I get is your letter as been noted .Pure bloody bullshit they just do not want take notice but I will keep on writing to them

Thanks Lou, I have found persistence pays off, not bothering may get a nil result. Trying is respected. K.

[Les Woodard]

I know that there has been a push for medals to be awarded to MN for services in conflict areas. My view is that they have degraded the significance of wearing medals by issuing so bloody many of them now. I recall growing up and if one saw a war veteran wearing a single medal or a few he was looked up to as someone that had gone through a lot to protect us. Nowadays every man and his dog seems to be stooped down with the weight of so many medals. I am expecting a lot of flack about this but it is an elephant in the room concerning recognition of bravery. That is what I am on about the recognition of bravery not service. Again years ago we used to all laugh at those tin pot countries where the generals got around festooned with medals and everything else only to find that we to have followed that path. I to have a veterans badge that has not seen the light of day since getting it simply because I was a galley boy at the time and looking back I was only there by accident not desire or forced to like so many others. No I would like to go back to the old ways where seeing a old timer with a bravery medal upon his person would be respected even more without all the other crap that they now issue out. Lets call a spade a spade. Seeing them on parade or in marches who would know what each one is unless really understanding all service medals from those for bravery up and beyond the call to duty. Think that the term "Decorations" is an apt name for a majority of them.

[Evan Lewis]

Evan I am surprised that that might be the case certainly by Whitlam or Keeting as they were both serious history buffs? Where does that info come from?
As to Aus youngsters not knowing about the other participants especially the UK, well amusing if sad thing is they believe that Aus-NZ were the main players as well. In reality played a bit part. Dare to say that in Aus & prepare for a slanging match! Gallipoli has grown into a huge myth in Aus thus taken on a life of its own.
No I'm not criticising, merely making the point if one does not see it then blind. My grandfather lost his leg there so there is a little history for the family.

Please Bear with .Me. Very pushed,. for time,at moment.(Slow typing)
Intend to Qualify ,assertions. soon .

[Keith at Tregenna]

I know that there has been a push for medals to be awarded to MN for services in conflict areas. unless really understanding all service medals from those for bravery up and beyond the call to duty. Think that the term "Decorations" is an apt name for a majority of them.

Taken a back seat of late, but now despair. k.

- - - Updated - - -

Please Bear with .Me. Very pushed,. for time,at moment.(Slow typing)
Intend to Qualify ,assertions. soon .

Mae hynny'n bwynt teg iawn

K.

[j.sabourn]

#15.... Les as Churchill said in March 1944....the object of presenting medals, stars and ribbons is to give pride and pleasure to those who have deserved them. Medals as we used to know were given were The Distinguished Service Order, The Victorian Cross, The George Cross, The George Medal, Royal Red Cross, Distinguished Service Cross,Military Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Cross, Military Medal, Queens Gallantry Medal, Polar Medal. The ones given out on New years Honours lists and Queens Birthday are usually Orders in Chivalry. All the Ribbons apart from the well known medals are campaign ribbons which I beleive Merchant seamen are entitled to, good conduct medals, length of service medal ( I have 3) and various others for going from A to B. Every high ranking officer in the US military must get them issued daily with their cornflakes. Half of the ribbons you see displayed dont mean too much to others, but suppose the wearer must get some feeling of achievement from same. I am not a big fan of some of this refinery as like yourself why should a Military Medal be lost among 20 other ribbons issued for in some cases crossing the road so to speak. However the likes of the Medal which the authorities have been refusing to cast , is a slur on our past seafarers achievements especially when you think of all the good condust medals and others which really represent nothing. Cheers John S

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Ref. The Good conduct medal issued by the RN, Saw this issued once to a PO on the MOD ship I was on. I asked one of the matelots what was going on as knew the recipient, but not the Admiral who was dropped in by helicopter to present it, his reply was he is being issued with a medal for 15 years of undiscovered crime. It was the recipients ambition to get out of the Navy in one piece so to speak and get a job in the postal services. Beleive these have now been privatized in the UK so often wonder how he got on. Cheers JS

[Lou Barron]

You mean to say Les that those MN guys who served in the Atlantic convoys and in those Artic convoys did not earn those medals .Your philosophy would have been a good topic to talk about with some of the guys who did those trips

[Les Woodard]

Lou you miss my point. All those men deserve their rewards albet be it medals or ribbons plus other stuff. What I am on about is how the value of those gallantly earned medal and such are being degraded with all the crap that they are handing out nowadays. I take my hat of or salute all of those that served just let them be recognised instead of lost in the crowd of pretenders.

[j.sabourn]

Lou, dont think Les was inferring that. I am not well up on the Aus/NZ medals, but a close assossiate of mine always puts AOM RFD after his name. I calculated that the AOM was the Australian Order Medal ( not even sure that is correct) however couldnt figure out what the RFD was and thought it stood for Royal Flying Doctor, asked other people who I thought were wiser than myself and they thought the same. So I went and asked him, to my surprise found it stands for Reserve Forces Decoration, which I think is part of the AOM bit. I beleive I have mentioned that at the ceremony of the empty chair which I frequent every year, there is always a number of young ones weighed down with ribbons, the forces do issue a lot more medals out here than what they used to. Or so it appears to me, however they are no where near the yanks and other nations. Cheers John S

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Keith your Gaelic or Welsh, a geordie looking at that would shout for his wife and ask if she was alright, looks like my hinny has bent her leg on the lawn. Would also sound like something else when spoken in a broader accent. Cheers JS #17