ANZAC Day
April 25, 2010On April 25th, Australians and New Zealanders the world over will remember those who died in the various wars. The original ANZAC Day was April 25, 1915 — the site was Gallipoli in Turkey; the result was slaughter. During WW1, Australia had a population of 5 million; some 420,000 fought in WW1; and some 60,000+ died, many at Gallipoli.
I’d like to share two songs in remembrance of those who were injured or who died in the various conflicts and wars, and the families left behind:
- And the band played Waltzing Matilda (Eric Bogle; lyrics: http://ericbogle.net/lyrics/lyricspdf/andbandplayedwaltzingm.pdf):
BTW, a ‘matilda’ is a pack/swag, and ‘waltzing matilda’ was a term from the late 1890s and early 1900s to describe those who had no work (depression of the 1890s) and who roamed the countryside looking for food and work. - I was only 19 (Redgum; lyrics: http://www.schumann.com.au/john/lyrics.html):
Also, if you’ve never watched Gallipoli — the Peter Weir movie starring a very young Mel Gibson — do so.
[Links last checked April 2010]
