ANZAC Day - April 25

[Antipodean Andy]

For The Fallen

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 of 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.

Laurence Binyon

It is a poem about England/Britain's soldiers but the fourth stanza will be read out thousands of times tomorrow across Australia, New Zealand and other parts of the world - lest we forget.

[Nostalgair]

Great post Andy, thanks.

What are the Aussies in the group up to on ANZAC Day?

Cheers

Owen

[Antipodean Andy]

Given it's our last ANZAC Day in Perth before the move to Melbourne, I think we'll do the dawn service in King's Park at the State War Memorial overlooking the city and Swan River and east to the rising sun - something to share with the thousands of other people who make the effort!

Botanic Gardens & Parks Authority - let the pics at the top scroll through and you'll see the view.

[spidge]

I used to live just under that memorial. No not under it - In a flat on the other side of the hill!

[Antipodean Andy]

Good views either way!

[Nostalgair]

We'll be up for the local Dawn Service before my eldest daughter 'marches' with her pre-school to the memorial later in the morning. She wants to wear Grandad's medals, but the miniatures may have to suffice due to matters of geometry. (I don't know who'll be more proud; her or her 84 year old Nanna)

Cheers,

Owen

[CTNana]

Originally Posted by Nostalgair

We'll be up for the local Dawn Service before my eldest daughter 'marches' with her pre-school to the memorial later in the morning. She wants to wear Grandad's medals, but the miniatures may have to suffice due to matters of geometry. (I don't know who'll be more proud; her or her 84 year old Nanna)

Cheers,

Owen

That brought a tear too!!

Andy that looked beautiful. It must be a very moving experience. Are the services always held at dawn?

[Roxy]

The UK's northernmost commemoration takes place tomorrow at the Dallachy Strike Wing Memorial at 1000. Members of No 5 Sqn RNZAF involved in Exercise Joint Warrior hope to show a presence.

Lest we forget.

Roxy

[spidge]

35,000 at the dawn service in Melbourne.

Live coverage today of the Anzac Cove dawn service from Gallipoli.

We will also have live coverage of the Australians attending the service at Villers-Bretonneux. This is the 90th anniversary of the Australians /NZ taking the town back from the Germans. This is the first time the service will actually be on Anzac Day as in all previous years it has been celebrated on the Saturday.

Villers Bretonneux Liberated on Anzac Day 1918

[John]

Thank you Andy for such a wonderful poem. A great read on Anzac day

John