For the ANZAC banner.

Much appreciated.

Great to see TV1 full day line up of ANZAC shows

Took the dogs up to Toowomba for the march. All went well. The crowd love the dogs and the little pups we took up as well.

Went to the Dawn Service in Wanganui, a small town of about 45 000. Very well attended, especially by schoolkids.

For the survivors of Gallipoli and for the new soldiers in training, the Werstern Front lay ahead.

A small extract from the NZ Official History of The Great War. "Passchendaele : Preparations for the 12 October 1917 attack on Bellevue Spur, especially the positioning of the supporting artillery, could not be completed in time because of the mud. As a result, the creeping barrage was weak and ragged. Some of the shells dropped short, causing casualties among the New Zealanders waiting to advance. To make matters worse, the earlier artillery bombardment had failed to breach the obstacle presented by the German barbed wire. Another key target, the Germans' concrete pillboxes with their deadly machine-guns, were also left largely undamaged.

Troops from 2nd Brigade and 3rd (Rifle) Brigade advanced at 5.25 a.m. in drizzle that soon turned to driving rain. As they struggled towards the ridge in front of them, they found their way blocked by the uncut barbed wire. Exposed to raking German machine-gun fire from both the front and flank, the New Zealanders were pinned down in shell craters in front of the wire. A few determined individuals tried to get through the barrier, but they were quickly killed.

Orders came for another push at 3 p.m., but this was mercifully postponed and then cancelled. The troops eventually fell back to positions close to their start line. For badly wounded soldiers lying in the mud, the aftermath of the battle was a private hell; many died before they could be rescued.

The toll was horrendous. There were more than 2700 New Zealand casualties, of which 45 officers and 800 men were either dead or lying mortally wounded between the lines. In terms of lives lost in a single day, this remains the blackest day in New Zealand’s Military existence. "

At the Going Down of the Sun and in the Morning, we will remember them.

Thanks for the Anzac banner,always a thoughtful day in this household, nice to see it whan I logged in tonight
Steve

Saw on the news that the Kiwi's led the march in Sydney or Canberra (didn't catch the location. Good on em

Thanks Don.

You guys are most welcome.

I'm in Doha Qatar and last night there was quite a party for ANZAC at one of the expats working here.

I've never seen 20 people drink so much in so little time.



Don

Just got home an boy am I buggered!!! Been on the go since 04:30AM.
Was good to catch up with all me old mates from XLH, RAAC an RMR. The Dawn service was moving as always at Kings Park. Its time just right that as Last Post is played the Sun rises up over the hills in a blaze of glory just like the rising sun badge!
The March had a good turn out, Service, ex service and the public were all in force. A few missing faces tho.
Dirty Nells will need a few days to get back on an even keel and I need a few hours sleep!

To All, thanks for doing your bit on this day, ANZAC Day.