Marching dangers

[happy daze john in oz]

Sunday April 25th was Anzac day here in Oz and as I have on other occasions went into town to watch the march and join the Merchant Navy section when it came along. The march takes about three hours and the M.N.contingent are always at the rear end of the march with all the other 'auxilaries'. For those that know it Young and Jacksons had a queue around the corner by 10a.m. all trying desperately to get a beer before they marched.
Found a good spot on the side of the road so had full view of the march. It is made up of returned service men, younger generation of WW1 and WW2 veterans and all divisions of war are represented.
There was about 30 minutes of the march left when a contingent of Sri Lankans representing previous generations of soldiers came along, and just behind a WW2 heavy duty truck used as a personnel carrier. It had 8 back to back seats with 6 of them occupied. The march is at walking pace and all vehicles are usually about three vehicles lengths behind and marchers. All was well when suddenly without warning the truck shot forward into the back of the Sri Lankans. I found it very hard to believe what I was seeing, like something out of a dream. The driver had the good sense to slam on the brakes but no before 6 of the marchers had been laid out like skittles and a 90year old on the truck thrown to the ground.
Have never seen so many police cars and ambulances appear from nowhere in such a short time. Apparently from what we heard there may have been a problem with the accelerator and not the fault of the driver who also had to be taken along with the other 7 to hospital.
Thankfully no one was too badly hurt but the remainder of the march was called off.

[Doc Vernon]

Hi John
Yes indeed that was a very sad thing to happen on such a day,but thankfully no one was killed!
That must be a first of its kind to ever happen in the long History of the March!
I am sure that many thousands of People were shocked,and also very dissapointed that the Mrach was called off!
But of course there was no other thing to do!
Anyway on the News last Night they showed Two of the old Diggers in Hospital,and although they must have been pretty shaken and sore,seemed to be not too bad in Spirit!
Lets hope they all make full recoveries soon!
Bet they will soon be up and about and having a nice Beer at the Locla RSL!
Cheers