Anzac 2015

#38... Breaker Moran was a true story and not so long back his relatives were trying to get his charges reversed. If you go by the facts and film it was a travesty of justice committed by the British Army of the day, who wanted the usual scapegoat. Cheers John S

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#43... Lou as long as there are still youngsters and also those not so young who will ask questions and seek answers we as a people are not so badly off. It is those who go through life and never question other peoples motives and reasons for doing things that trouble starts. The old saying a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing, this is only correct if the person does not follow up on what they already know. The young girl will now know all her life why you were wearing what you had, and why. I hope she grows up questioning everything that happens to her also in the future, what gets me is the apathy that some assume they cant change things and everything a government spouts is unquestionably set in concrete. It is not, everything a government does out of the content of their role in office, should be followed by a big WHY. Cheers John S

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Originally Posted by j.sabourn

#32... The population of Australia and NZ in those days was very small, I should imagine as the losses to population was a very large percentage per head of population. I think someone once told me that if you worked out the same way percentage wise of the British Merchant Navy their losses exceeded the armed forces, dont know if it was the three services or just one. i.e. Say the MN cosisted of 130000 members and say lost 40000would be just over 30 percent. The army had hundreds of thoussands of men ditto the other services and although they lost more men, their percentage losses were not that apparent. Dont know what the actual figures were. Australia in the 50"s think the population was probably about 10 million so was probably a dash sight less in 1915. Cheers John S

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Very true John with the population of Oz at the time of WW1 was below 6 million and with so many going it made a big dent in numbers. No doubt NZ suffered at the same rate as the popul there was little over 1 million. there is no doubt they were used by churchill as cannon fodder ans paid a terrible price. Go to any town in Oz and you will see a war memorial with names of WW1 soldiers on it. Breaker Morrant was before entering the army a bit of a wag, and it is said he came form an English family. Used as a scapegoat for poor Army regulations at the time and executed for it. But at that time the establishment would do anything to make sure they were never tarnished as a result of bad decissions.

#36... The only thing that embarrases me about Australia is some of the politicians. Australia is a great Country which as of yet has not been polluted by too much bad history of the past. You talk to a 4th or 5th generation Australian and will get more insight to what the country is all about. What we have here originated by the early settlers with a mixture of convicts thrown in, most bad things that the country has accumulated in later life was from those , me included, brought in from Europe. The first thing I would change is its constitution was that anybody in a political role had to be at least a second generation Australian, born and bred in the country. The past 2 P.M.s we have had were both born and further education was in the second case in the UK. They always have a tendency to watch European policys. Australia is a country in its own right and does not need any advice from anyone apart from its own citizens. Europe is Europe and Australia is Australia two differen entities in their goals in life. With those who can remember what Australia used to stand for, maybe we can get back there with the right Australian and Australian thinking person in power >> cheers John S.

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Originally Posted by Les Woodard

I respect your opinion mate and can understand where you are coming from in regards to this issue. Just want to throw an alternative scenario into that thought. It is now common for those veterans to march wearing their medals and decorations on their left side plus also wearing the medals and decorations of either mates or family on their right hand side. What are your personal feeling on this practice as I personally find that it signifies true feelings towards their comrades. In a lot of cases they are honoring those who where unable to receive them themselves.

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It's a quandry Les, but if it is 'Veterans' wearing their Veterans mate's medals from the same campaign, I cannot see that being a problem, but what I am not comfortable with is someone who did not earn them, nor serve in any service wearing the medals of a father/grandfather/great grandfather or relative (probably never having met the latter), as I said it's a quandry. But my opinion won't change anything, just my views.

From the Royal British Legion Website

The official position regarding wearing medals other than your own is that they should not be worn. However, it was generally accepted from soon after the Great War that widows of the fallen wore their late husband's medals on the right breast on suitable occasions.

More recently it seems to have become the custom for any family member to wear medals of deceased relations in this way, sometimes trying to give a complete family military history by wearing several groups. Although understandable it is officially incorrect, and when several groups are worn it does little for the dignity of the original owners.

Lets face it the political system here in Oz is crap. As pointed out we follow whatever happens in USA politics simply because our lot do not have a clue how to run a country (both parties). Until we can change their mindset of looking past the next election we are doomed as the old saying goes. As for cow towing to the yanks for support I am of the opinion that when they allowed them to establish a military base up north that we should have also allowed the Chinese to establish one up there as well. After all are they not our biggest customers. Much like opening a butchers shop in a ****** area and allowing the local pig farmer to have a section of the shop is it not.

Don't worry Les, the current expansion of the South China Sea that will no doubt also be designed to encompass the Coral and Tasman Seas and beyond will change all that.

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Originally Posted by j.sabourn

#36... The only thing that embarrases me about Australia is some of the politicians. Australia is a great Country which as of yet has not been polluted by too much bad history of the past. You talk to a 4th or 5th generation Australian and will get more insight to what the country is all about. What we have here originated by the early settlers with a mixture of convicts thrown in, most bad things that the country has accumulated in later life was from those , me included, brought in from Europe. The first thing I would change is its constitution was that anybody in a political role had to be at least a second generation Australian, born and bred in the country. The past 2 P.M.s we have had were both born and further education was in the second case in the UK. They always have a tendency to watch European policys. Australia is a country in its own right and does not need any advice from anyone apart from its own citizens. Europe is Europe and Australia is Australia two differen entities in their goals in life. With those who can remember what Australia used to stand for, maybe we can get back there with the right Australian and Australian thinking person in power >> cheers John S.

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John mate, I can to some degree like what you say but Oz is now part of the global community and as such we can no longer do things in isolation. many of our policies now have to fit into a larger global situation and whilst we may not like it thta is how it must be. But I think the biggest problem we have here in Oz, and in many other western nations, is the reliance on the gov for just about everything. 50% of the population now get some form of assistance from the gov. When any thing goes wrong the cry is what is the gov doing about it? Why is it thta people are so reliant on thre gov, is it that thye can no longer think and act on their own? If we continue olong such lines how long before we become a European basket case?

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Originally Posted by Lou Barron

About this time last year I was in Liverpool for the Anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic and something happened to me that I think I will never forget .It happened while Capt Kong and partner and I was walking along the Pier Head and I was wearing my medals when a young girl and her mother came over to me and ask me would I mind what was the medals for ,I was taken in by such a young person interesting about things like that

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A rare priceless moment ? Actually many are learning of the past and are becoming more aware. No one is preaching, they want to know. K.

Yes, they should be remembered! I attend Anzac day dawn services in my own way representing the MN & Fishing Fleets, and in the late 70's early 80's had the honour of giving the address at the Rememberance day Ceremeony at The Adelaide River War Cementry (only one on Aussie soil) on behalf of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets.

Colin Wood MM M.A.I.M.S.