Lest we forget...

Lone Pine

As I sat to write today, the memories of past wars are all around me.
Today in Australia it's Anzac Day, a day more revered by us all than any other, it is the day this country found its soul, through mateship, grit and determination in the face of dire circumstance on the cliffs of Gallipoli.
I have to confess that I watched the Anzac Day service on television rather than braving the cold and dark dawn, but watch it I did and shed a tear for all those brave young men who gave their lives for our country.

I have also been catching up on season 2 of Downton Abbey and of course the episode was set in 1915, as I watched scenes of the Battle of the Somme it struck me how similar the demeanour of the young boys were in both battles, terrified young men awaiting their fate above the trench walls, so desperate to make their families and mates proud, yet so scared at the prospect of being wounded or worse, not returning at all. 

In our family tree we have Great Uncles and Great Grandfathers who fought and some who died at Gallipoli. Today my thoughts are with all Australian soldiers around the world, past and present, may God speed and bring you home to your families and loved ones.

Lest we forget.


My favourite war novels:
War and Peace          Leo Tolstoy
The English Patient    Michael Ondaatje
Birdsong                   Sebastian Faulks
A Long way Gone      Ishmael Beah
Highways to a War    Christopher J Koch
Cold Mountain           Charles Frazier