11/ 11/11 2011

[BushyFromOz]

I left indonesia and egypt off the list by accident

You'd be surprised to know that for some australians erved with the british in russia and im pretty sure canada sent a whole expedition there for the civil war, so for some the first world war for them finished in 1919. You wont find a record of that in australia because the government didn't want its name on it, so the few we sent were rolled in with the british, even though they were to still wear australian uniform's.

In fact, Australians won 2 victoria crosses in that theatre of war.

Some war memorials in australia for the first world war list the "great war" from 1914 to 1919 because of this

There were also a bunch of guys still in the middle east who either voluntered for, or were pressed into service in egypt to suppress some kind of anti-british uprising. A few guys were killed there after WW1 finished but before they could ship home, hene why the inclusinve dates for WW1 serviceman runs all the way to 1921 for the service records... bloody empire building.

Actually the losses for Aus since it first went to war in 1860 (believe it or not, against New Zealanders!) are just a tad ovr 100 000, pales in comparison to the UK, US or france, but considering that nearly all our dead have died on foreign soil makes it more poignant in my opinion

http://www.awm.gov.a...war_casualties/

Oh man, how could i forget this.

Rudyard Kiplingwrote about how society treats its soldiers in 1890

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o'beer,

The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."

The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,

I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:

O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";

But it's ``Thank you, Mister Atkins,'' when the band begins to play,

The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,

O it's ``Thank you, Mr. Atkins,'' when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,

They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;

They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,

But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";

But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,

The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,

O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep

Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;

An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit

Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.

Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy how's yer soul?"

But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,

The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,

O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,

But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;

An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints:

Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;

While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind,"

But it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind,

There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,

O it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires an' all:

We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.

Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face

The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"

But it's "Saviour of 'is country," when the guns begin to shoot;

An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;

But Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!

Things aint changed much

Edited November 13, 2011 by BushyFromOz

[tniuqs]

Yup the "colonials" were cannon fodder for the brits.

But go PPCLI .. kick some asses you always do !

[DFIB]

http://youtu.be/DWrMeBR8W-c

Edited November 13, 2011 by DFIB

[BushyFromOz]

Yup the "colonials" were cannon fodder for the brits.

But go PPCLI .. kick some asses you always do !

Perhaps being colonial cannon fodder is why canadian new zealanders and australian are so much alike.

We should form the New Canadaustralia empire and take over the world

Love he song, i ant figure out why but gee toby keith shits me for some reason

Edited November 13, 2011 by BushyFromOz

[BushyFromOz]

Yup the "colonials" were cannon fodder for the brits.

But go PPCLI .. kick some asses you always do !

I have a soft spot for PPCLI because along with 3RAR with whom my grandfather served a 3inch mortar were the 2 major units at Kapyong in Korea. An historic moment in commonwealth military history

[tniuqs]

New Kanukistan.australia. kiwi empire, right on !

[craig]

that way we could all be world champions in rugby league, rugby union, netball and ice hockey.....cricket to come.....

all for New Auskanukastan Land...........

[Richard B the EMT]

I didn't find out until recently, that in Korea, there were so many nation's armies fighting North Korean and Chinese Armies. Heck, "MASH" even had running fistfights between Greek and Cypriot soldiers in the recovery tent.

As for Viet Nam, I had no idea anyone else but US troops were involved.

But it was at the Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month, that the Armistace between German and Allied forces was signed, and the "War to End All Wars" ended, in 1918.

[BushyFromOz]

I didn't find out until recently, that in Korea, there were so many nation's armies fighting North Korean and Chinese Armies.

Not surprised..... any forces working under Douglas MacArthur other than US tended to be "left out" of media reporting at thte time, and subequently lost to popular history.

[basejump]