Von Gruff.

I'm taking my students and their dogs up to Toowoomba for the ANZAC march again. Should be a good one, nice calm dogs this year. Still a little nerve wracking walking attack trained dogs through a crowd

lets hope that the news re the aussies in the nz reports that drew flack are withdrawn.

Dick head reporters who think their opinion is worth something.Or indeed even important.

going to the dawn service and a few cold one with my old regiment UBIQUE

Gidday Guys,

Blatant plagarism fro another site but worthy of repeating here

JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
(A Soldier Died Today)
by A. Lawrence Vaincourt

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.

And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.

It's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,
Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.


Happy Hunting

Hamish

for those who are interested - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda - by Eric Bogle - best captured by Irish band The Pogues.....

The Band Played Waltzing Matilda

Very fine Matt. Thank for posting that link.

I'll be at the ANZAC parade at the National War Memorial.

Our baby is a bit to young to freeze under the cockatoos this morning. And by now at 06:38 Canberra time it's already over.

Last year someone gave us tickets to sit in the snob section, and my Brigadier who was an honored guest was actually farther away from Angus than I was.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Very fine Matt. Thank for posting that link.

+1

I hadn't seen that version.

There was a really good rollup at Mcquade Park in Windsor (2756) for the dawn service this year.

quote:

Originally posted by Bakes:
I'm taking my students and their dogs up to Toowoomba for the ANZAC march again. Should be a good one, nice calm dogs this year. Still a little nerve wracking walking attack trained dogs through a crowd

Depends on the crowd.

A good service in Melb, with the usual RV at Young and Jacksons.