Anzac Day dedication thread

[Pugaree Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pugaree]

Thought I might start a thread where we can list those relatives and friends that we will be thinking about this coming ANZAC Day.

I'll be thinking of two in particular.

Pte Henry Norman Gamble 2/1 Battalion, my maternal grandfather. He was shot in the left thigh in the Battle of Bardia on 4th Jan 1941. He lost both his leg and his mind that day.

Lt Joseph Hutcheson Bryson 9th Battalion, a Great Uncle also on my mothers side, who died on the 16th March 1918 in a field hospital near Bailleul in France after being gassed at Hill 60 a week earlier. I was fortunate enough to visit his grave earlier last year to pay my respects. It was a very moving experience.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

My dad turned 90 last week. He fought against the Nazis as a partisan (Serb). He was shot in the neck and taken prisoner for 2 years. He carried the bullet for 5 months before it popped out just above his bum. At war's end, he helped clean the streets of building rubble from the bombings. He never saw his mother or father again. He never got any medals nor any compo. He doesn't complain about those days. He just complains about the lazy bastards that we have today.

[drew_1 Find all posts View Profile Close drew_1]

we made the local dawn service this morning (handily the local rissole was serving beers at 5.30am) and as always, you feel extremely guilty and humble for the easy civilian lives we live.

bushbasher, my grandmother is a holocaust survivor who experienced some terrible, terrible things in poland before she came to oz so respect to your father! my gran went on to start a great family and work hard and also never complained about almost anything - they're pretty goddamn tough!!!

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Broome saw about 4000 attend the dawn service with plenty of young families and kids. Local RSL president made mention of those people that expect everything for nothing and respect no-one. Hopefully we never have to face another world war or major conflict where we have to rely on those not prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice.