This time last year, I was sitting in Anzac Cove in Gallipolli with DH freezing our butts off waiting for the dawn service!!!
What an amazing experience it was, very emotional and and without a doubt one of the best things I have ever done.
DH's grandfather served in the war so Anzac day holds a very special place in our hearts. Infact last year we stumbled across some document cylinders stashed away in our study which got muddled up with our things when we moved out of DH's parents house. It turned out to be handwritten letters that DH's Grandfather wrote while he was in the war They were amazing to read but also very hard to hear the things written and imagine what those poor men went through.
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,
I one day would love to be at an ANZAC servce at Gallipoli would be the most amazing and moving experience.
All those brave Men and Women who gave their life for their country and our freedom.
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,
A HUGE 'thank you' to all our ADF troops and their families this ANZAC day.
Thank you for protecting us
Thank you for the dedication an ADF life demands, no guaranteed holidays, moving with postings, far less pay/perks than you deserve, months away from home
Thank you for risking your life, so I can live free from persecution
Thank you to those who laid down their lives in the name of freedom
and most of all THANKYOU to all those wives and children who support their ADF'er and sacrifice their precious family time (and sometimes their loved one) to make the world a better place
We have a lot of ADF families on here. To those families, thank you. Tank you for supporting your husband, wife, mother, father, brother, sister so they can serve our Country. Thank you for the sacrifices you all make.
To all those who have lost loved ones during conflict and peace keeping missions, thank you.
To my Dad - thank you for dedicating 30+ years of service. I hope today is not too difficult for you.
To our servicing members, thank you seems inadequate.
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not 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.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables at home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
To those past & present we say 'thank you' for your service, your time, commitment & passion.
For giving up time with your families, husbands, wives, mothers, fathers & children to make the lives of strangers better.
R.I.P - pop & to my cousins serving today... THANK YOU!
Sent from my iPhone, more than likely while I should be doing something else!
I always remember my great great uncle George. He fell in WW1 and his body still has never been found =(. A few years ago I went on my own personal pilgrimige to France (where he feel) to remember him and let him know he was never forgotten, and I still hope that he will be found one day. Along with the hundred others who haven't been able to Rest In Peace. Whilst over there I got a tattoo with his initials, battalion and serial number. I think about him everyday, but more so on ANZAC day along with all the other poor souls who never made it home.
My dad was unable to march this year as he is on his way back from interstate but he usually matches locally and I've marched with him... I'd love it if my kids one day marched with us too.
Ds1 got up at 4:30am this morning to go to his first big boy Dawn Service with Dh. He was so excited as soon as I woke him he scrambled out of bed with a big grin on his face. They made a rather fetching pair. Apparently it was so cool being with all the "hero's" and having breaky with the old diggers afterwards.
The boys come from a long line of servicemen on both sides; my father is currently serving his 31st year in the Army, my mothers father spent 25yrs in the navy and ofcourse Dh is going into his 11th year. We even go back to Gallipoli on both sides; DH's GG Grandfather was injured on the shores of Anzac Cove and my GG Grandfather was killed serving with the Irish Regiment - all they found was one boot and his pay book
To our mates who have made the ultimate sacrifice; K, C and BT - we will remember them.
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Anzac Day
They were amazing to read but also very hard to hear the things written and imagine what those poor men went through.
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