Pic-and-Word-Challenge_Wk161-Remembrance-Day-2018

 

My own Remembrance Day post

along with some Canadian Memories for you Patrick.

Although I must confess they are

memorialising a New Foundland Regiment.

and not a BC regiment.

As we walked the trenches my thoughts were that there

was not enough cover and I would be wanting to

dig down another foot or so if someone was shooting at me.

If anyone recognises this young lady

and she would like a full copy of the photo I will oblige.

I don’t like posting photos

if have not asked the subject.

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Remembrance Day 2018

Before visiting the Western Front Battlefields in June 2017,

I had heard that Flanders poppies grew like weeds

on the Somme battlefields. 

While this photo was taken in a cemetery,

the second image was a typical farm sight.

The photo below however, was not 

And was an unexpected sight… 

On this day,

the eleventh day

of the eleventh month

at the eleventh hour

World War I ended

in 1918. 

Today is Remembrance Day

 

“We will remember them.”

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Pic-and-Word-Challenge_Wk161_Rememberance-Day-2018

November 2018 WitsEnd Inspirations: Unexpected

Remembrance-Day-2018

 

Before visiting the Western Front Battlefields in June 2017,

I had heard that Flanders poppies grew like weeds

on the Somme battlefields. 

While this photo was taken in a cemetery,

the second image was a typical farm sight.

The photo below however, was not 

And was an unexpected sight… 

On this day,

the eleventh day

of the eleventh month

at the eleventh hour

World War I ended

in 1918. 

Today is Remembrance Day

 

“We will remember them.”

~~~~~

November 2018 WitsEnd Inspirations: Unexpected

Word-of-Day-Challenge-Spectre

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If I had the ability I’m sure cemeteries of

The Western Front…

would have many onlookers

such as those imposed over this shot.

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Word of the Day Challenge: Spectre

Daily Prompt-Ceremony

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On August 5, 1914, my Grandfather was part of a gun crew

which fired the first allied shot of what was

to become known as The Great War.

At the time he was stationed at Point Nepean which

is situated on the eastern side of the entrance to Port Phillip Bay.

The cannon on the right was the one used for the task.

The barrel on the left was used to fire the first shot

of World War II.

One hundred years later, August 5, 2014,

on bright sunny day in winter

a ceremony was conducted to commemorate that event.

 

All the ceremony the military could muster

was included to mark  the occasion.

 

We had mixed messages about who could lay the wreath,

so as my Grandfather did we took things into our own hands

and I and my two Aunties, Dad’s sisters,

to lay our wreath.

My Auntie, on the right, has since passed.

Just before 1245 a freighter came into view as it did in 1914.

 

Then at precisely 1245 a ceremonial shot

was fired from Point Nepean,

to mark the centenary of firing of the

First Shot of World War I.

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Daily Prompt: Ceremony

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ANZAC-Day-2018

 

Today, ANZAC Day 2018 the

Prime Minister of Australia…

Mr. Malcolm Turnbull…

is visiting the co-located

Australian National Memorial

and the

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery

located just outside of Villers-Brettonneux

on The Somme Battlefields of France,

to open the Sir John Monash Centre.

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The Sir John Monash Centre was…

 

 

under construction when

I visited early in June, 2017…

and is situated behind the Central Tower…

 

from which the views are stunning. 

 

It was extremely difficult to imagine

all the lives lost…

 

and bloodshed in

this idyllic farming land.

 

 There are wing walls flanking the central tower…

 

upon which are engraved the names of

10,732 Australian casualties who died in France…

and who have no known grave.

 

Used as an observation post by

the French in World War II…

 

the Memorial was extensively damaged by

German aircraft and ground fire.  

During the repair process it was decided to

retain some of the scarring.

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Lest We Forget

 

 

Black and White Tuesday18-0424_ANZAC

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Black and White Tuesday

ANZAC Week 2018

~~~~~

 

Some ANZAC Day related posts this week.The Ayette, Indian and Chinese Cemetery.

I just could not get over how care goes

into maintaining these cemeteries.

 

 Headstones sitting shoulder to shoulder

indicate that all these lives were lost in one battle

and I think on the same day.

The age of most was 18-23 years.

No wonder my Grandfather was known as ‘old’

at the ripe old age of 28.

The Thiepval Memorial to

the French and British

missing on the Somme.

 My first look at how much these sites mean

to people of all ages from all parts

of the world.

 

 Children or Churches

remembering ancestors.

MY Grandfather survived World War I

however, he now has his own

small memorial in France.

Lest We Forget.

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Hope you enjoyed.

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DISCOVER CHALLENGE17_0112_Transcript

Transcript

 

In April 2013 around ANZAC Day (April 25) I

transcribed this diary extract about my

Grandfather during World War I.

The entire post may be found HERE

One day of routine manning I left Carlin and another at the tap in with instructions that if the line went we’d mend it at our end as it always got out about 150 yards from the O.P. the Hun strafing that point every day for no reason whatever and doing no damage except to a few telephone lines.   Sure enough the Hun had his strafe and the line went.  Harper was with me and another man, probably Davis.  Of course they wanted to go out and mend it, but as the line was of no great importance at the moment told them to wait till the strafe stopped – we could see and hear shells bursting.  Next thing Harper got a buzz on the phone showing it was through and a little later old Carlin’s head appeared at the parade, beaded with sweat and much wind up.  I strafed him for coming out when he was told to stay in.  His reply was, “I saw the O.P. was getting it and thought someone might be hit.”  That did not prevent him stopping to mend the line amongst the S. 9.

 I have always said that “Windy Bill Carlin” is the bravest man I have met and one of the windiest. The man who is not windy cannot be brave, but the man who does his job at all times and under all conditions and with the wind up all the time, is the man I admire.

It is one of the few pieces of memorabilia

I have of either of my Grandfathers,

and even though I think the conflict was abhorrent,

I am still proud of their efforts during that time.

My Grandfather was awarded a

Distinguished Conduct Medal

for this and other action while serving in

France and Belgium.

There are some typos or spelling errors and

are included to maintain faithfulness

 to the original copy. 

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DP_Discover Challenge: Transcript

Weekly Photo Challenge-Admiration

 

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My contribution for this week’s challenge…

Admiration

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In February

The Spirit of ANZAC

exhibition was in Melbourne.

As I have regularly mentioned my Grandfather was

a Gunner on The Western Front after being deployed to Europe.

Was this the type of gun he was using?

Whichever side of the ‘fence’ soldiers were on…

they are people I admire.

For their courage….

in such appalling conditions.

For their ability to help a mate…

and for their ability to continue marching on.

However, these statistics we must never forget…

because these number only represent

about half the casualties of World War 1.

LEST WE FORGET

I was granted permission to photograph the exhibition

by a representative of the organiser.

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Admiration

(dailypost.wordpress.com)

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• :: WP Weekly Photo Challenge: Admiration – Belo Horizonte daily photo
• Family Admiration – A Wandering Memory

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ANZAC DAY 2016

Lest We Forget

A few weeks ago I happened to pass through

Corindhap township.

Corindhap Avenue of Honour

The Avenue of Honour caught my eye

and I have included it as my

2016 ANZAC Day tribute.

Corindhap Avenue of Honour

Opened in 1917, the young cypress trees planted to

mark, line and  commemorate World War 1,

have now been removed.

Corindhap Avenue of Honour

However, not they are not totally gone.

Corindhap Avenue of Honour

Several have been turned into sculptures,

recognising various aspects of war.

Corindhap Avenue of Honour

Light Horse.

Corindhap Avenue of Honour

Infantry.

Corindhap Avenue of Honour

Infantry.

Corindhap Avenue of Honour

Infantry.

Corindhap Avenue of Honour

Airforce

Corindhap Avenue of Honour

Airforce

Corindhap Avenue of Honour

Airforce

Corindhap Avenue of Honour

And those left behind…

Corindhap Avenue of Honour

to tend home and family and receive the bad news.

Corindhap Avenue of Honour

Corindhap now has a population of

around 100 people (Wikipedia)

a far cry from its peak of 5,000 in the

mid 1800s when gold was discovered nearby.

Corindhap Avenue of Honour

LEST WE FORGET

ANZAC DAY 2016

 

Cee’s Odd Ball Challenge-16Wk-7

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Odd Ball

Week 7, 2016

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Wouldn’t this be great…
a free tour of Europe and Great Britain?

Until you see the Big Picture!.

Last week I visited the

Spirit of ANZAC

Centenary Experience

at Melbourne’s Exhibition Centre.

Locally known as Jeff’s Shed after the Premier who

organised its construction in the early 1990s.

This was a great exhibition focusing on World War 1,

and to a lessor degree subsequent wars Australia,

or the ANZACs have been involved in.

After receiving an iPod and headphones each time

a new section was entered appropriate commentary

would commence.

The exhibition is travelling around Australia

culminating in Sydney in June next 2017.

Click this  link to see if it is coming to a city near you

Allow a couple of hours to view it (slowly).

Sponsored by

The Victorian Government and Telstra (our major Telco)

this exhibition is free,

although you  are asked to book tickets.

Visitors are allowed to take cameras into the exhibit,

although flash photography is banned.

I was also given permission to by Telstra

use my photos in Social Media.

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Cee’s Odd Ball Challenge-7

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