In Australia, 25th April is Anzac Day. Anzac stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. On this day, in both those countries, we remember all those who have fought to defend their people and to retain the freedom and peace we love, through all the wars we have been involved in and those we are currently fighting in.
I’ve been submitting photos to this blog from my father’s war album, from his time in North Africa in 1941 and 1942. He wrote a few poems during that time, including one about the Anzacs. It’s several verses long but here I’ll give you the first and last pages. There are some spelling errors and other slips in his handwriting; my transcription following the images will correct them.
Anzacs Forever
This camp’s getting stale,
You could hear the boys say,
Wish they’d make up their minds
And bung us away.
They wonder why we won’t stay in,
Why we try to dodge the parades,
You could see them taking the old French leave,
Not one, but bloody brigades.
Then came one bright Sunday,
One chocked full of surprise.
“Move out tomorrow,” the Captain said,
Then did the gleam come to their eyes.
So, as you strolled past all the tents,
You could hear them chat
Of women, the race horses,
This, the other, and that.
*****
For those gallant sons are Aussies
And they’ve ne’er been known to flinch,
It’s just the stuff they’re made of,
They’re soldiers, every inch.
They’ll fight for King and Country,
Protect the friends they know,
They’ll even fight for the weaklings
That are afraid to go.
Let’s hope and pray
It won’t be long
Before they are returned,
To carry on, just like before,
With the freedom they have earned.
They’ll go back to their jobs again,
Some may prefer the track,
But they’ve upheld the name of
The great and glorious A.N.Z.A.C.
R.E. Bruce
© Patricia Worth, 2012
I have cousins in Melbourne, and one particularly marches in place of her dad, my uncle, and she is real proud to do so. thanks for share, nice post, a meaningful one for people of yesteryear…;)
Thank you, Gerry. I don’t march, it’s too hard emotionally, seeing all the old diggers now in their nineties. But I’m doing this instead.
I just spoke to my cousin and she staying at home with my Aunty, her mum, age taking their toll, so just doing the remembrance at home. The old fashioned father time, eh…
Thank you for sharing your father’s diary with us. I have a passion for diaries and personal papers. I hope you decide to share more. I particularly like a book that shares exerpts from various diaries; it is called “The Assassin’s Cloak” – very entertaining anthology of diary entries. I believe it was written by Irene & Allan Taylor. Thanks again!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Giovanni. I’ll keep your suggested book in mind. I read a lot, so I can add it to my list.