Well it was Anzac time again and the kiddies were jumping through their skin to get up, until it was time to actually get up! But they were pretty good and before long I had them all packed away in the Tarrago, and we set off just after four hundred hours (army talk).
We had to watch the ceremony on one of the big screens they have in the Park, as most of the space around the war memorial was taken by the early starters... crikey we got their at twenty to five and there was bugger all space left already, but that was okay as the screens are a real ripper and you can see just about all the stuff you want to.
After the ceremony we were able to move up close to the memorial for some photos, and to have our special Anzac morning breakfast. Bloody Chase you can dress him up but you can't take him anywhere.
Today was gonna be our very first and hopefully many more to come Anzac Champagne Breakfast! Okay it was no-alcoholic stuff but it's the thought that counts, and it was pretty good stuff quiet surprisingly.
'Cheers to the diggers' from the big fella Osk, fairdinkum if you didn't know it was non-alcoholic you think the little fella was a bit tipsy!
Jacko n' Harry getting there tongues around the Champagne, and it was a ripper drop too.
Jacko took this photo of Harrison at the flame of remembrance, with the war memorial in the back ground. Ha,ha,ha I was just thinking Harrison looks like he belongs on the movie 'I know what you did last summer'.
Then it was Harry's turn to get Jacko, not bad photos from the little fellas, if I might say so myself.
Chase n' big bro Oscar.
'We do not glorify war on Anzac Day. Far from it. We
remember the dreadful loss of lives in the many gallant battles fought by those
brave young men who stepped forward when called upon to serve their country. Nor
are we agressive, but we believe in showing the future enemy that we are so
determined to defend our shores that he should think twice before taking on the
Sons of Anzac'!
Sir Colin Hines, President, R.S.L. (NSW) 1977
This year on our walk back to the Tarrago we stopped at one of the soldier plaques, and did what we have done over the last few years. We played 'adopt-a-soldier', and in this case we said G'day to a fella named Richard Chase who was a private during the war.
Unfortunately we couldn't find out much about Mr Chase but what we do know is that he signed up at the age of 54, his service number was 691 and he joined the 16th Battalion AIF that was the first Australian battalion to hit the Gallipoli beach on the 25th of April 1915. He must of fought a nightmare of a fight to survive that first attack, but sadly after fighting for fore more days he was killed on the 28th of April. He was killed in action at Courtney, Dardanelles on the Gallipoli Peninsula. He was just one of many brave soliders who lost their lives, here is the words from the Diary of Sergeant Dennis Moriarty:
Dawn broke on April 25th, a beautiful morning and not a breath of wind, and a slight haze which rapidly disappeared.
The
River Clyde beached according to plan at 6:30 , none of us felt it,
just a slight jar. Two companies of Dublins were towed in to shore and
were met by terrific rifle and machine gun fire. They were literally
slaughtered like rats in a trap.
Within five minutes of the “Clyde” beaching, off went the men cheering wildly and dashed ashore.
Man
after man behind me was shot down but they never wavered. Lieut Watts
who was wounded in five places and lying on the gangway cheered the men
with cries of “follow the Captain”. I was told afterwards that the first
48 men to follow me all fell.
LEST WE FORGET