Dubliners Waltzing Matilda : Eric Bogle : Anzacs Gallipoli

[dipsydoodle]

Run time: 06:17 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2wK-5RxGG4   Posted on YouTube: March 12, 2008 By YouTube Member: celticstar01 Views on YouTube: 128996   Posted on DU: June 04, 2011 By DU Member: dipsydoodle Views on DU: 725

 
My nephew Tim wrote this when he was still at primary school - aged 11.

On April 25th 1915, the Australian New Zealand Army Corps (or Anzacs as we know them
today) landed on the shores of Gallipoli and precipitated a horrific scene. Many men never
made it off the boat or were killed in the waters. Miraculously most soldiers made it onto the
rough pebble beach and stared up at the Turks positioned on a small hill, and there they saw
many things. Courage, Determination, Honour and Death. Yet they knew what they were
fighting for. For Faith, Peace and their country – Australia.

Anzac Day is not a celebration, nor a festival. It is a memorial, where we remember those
who died fighting for what they believed was right. That is the spirit of ANZAC – to stand tall
and proud knowing what you were doing was protecting your heritage and your country. It
symbolizes: Comradeship, helping out your mates or friends when they are in need; Courage
- to run blindly with your only defence being a gun and seeing bodies drop dead beside you,
not knowing who they were or asking the question of why they were shot and not you; Fear -
to move into the front line knowing that you have little but two minutes to live; Determination -
to will yourself to get through one dreaded and deadly day after another; and Pride - fighting
for peace and being honoured to serve your country. And THAT is the true meaning of
ANZAC.

I have never experienced war and nor do I ever want to. It is a terrible thing. Many lives are
lost but for what cause! Why should so many suffer when conflict could be resolved by
negotiations and peace-making conferences rather than war and horrific battles? In the end I
think it all comes down to power. Which country has it and which country wants it. Australia
was neither of those countries. Yet they fought beside those who they thought were on the
right side. They had to go to Gallipoli because no other allied force could enter it from the
North. So the Australian’s did their bit and they did it proudly. The Anzacs have a special
meaning to me somehow. It’s as though I feel their pain and honour clashing in a tremendous
way. Though gone they live in me and they shall always be a part of my being. Even though
I wasn’t born in their time, it’s like they were fighting for me, in a way I cannot express. Words
have no meaning to the feelings I possess for the Anzacs. All I can say is that the ANZAC
spirit lives within me and with these three words I shall always remember I honour them now
with all their courage and faith. Lest we forget.

[Kolesar]

1. Tim's essay has an interesting UK perspective

In Ohio, I have met scant people who even know where Gallipoli is, much less what happened there.

Kickin' it

[dipsydoodle]

2. Not quite

He was born and lives in Perth, Western Australia : he's at drama college there now. That was a competition set up by a politician there who was at Uni with T. Blair : they were each others "best man" at their weddings. The competition ran for some years until he retired from politics for health reasons and returned to an academic life. There remains the residue of a plan for all winners to go to Gallipoli c. 2015.
Tim is dead centre here holding a bag against his knee outside No 10 where he recited what he'd written one on one to TB.: http://www.anzac.dpc.wa.gov.au/index.cfm?event=2004tourReport