Thread: Anzac Day - April 25th - SOTD

This thread is an idea from Grazor, he wanted to honour the brave young men on the centenary of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli. For those who do not know what that is ANZAC stands for Australia & New Zealand Army Corps. It is not intended to glorify war, but to remember those for died in it.

They landed at Gallipoli in Turkey on the 25th of April 1915 and spent the next 9 months in hell under British command that used them as cannon fodder. I know I am early (being the 24th) but tomorrow is a full day for me and I wanted to make sure that this small token of honour is made and that we can all be thankful, as the many, for the sacrifices of the few. 2 Nations formed their identity and an enduring mateship during this campaign and it's something very close to both Aussies and Kiwis.

The irony here being my British blade of course, but they are a very good shave and very common here in Australia. The jacket is my dad's and the rosemary has been a common symbol for memory throughout history (it is given out by various organisations on Anzac Day) and it grows wild where the ANZACs landed at Gallipoli.

We Will Remember Them, Lest We Forget.

Edit: This was originally in the SOTD thread as ANZAC Day thread but has been moved around and probably fits better here anyway, not forgetting the NZ component of ANZAC though.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Robert Laurence Binyon "For the Fallen"

Bob

Anzac Day - Always remember....

Lest we forget

Sorry I do not have a decent camera except for my iphone, so my SOTD is broken down to some previous pictures...

In honour of remembering the sacrifices of many on the 100yr anniversary of Gallipoli I decided to use nothing by my best and favourites...

Wade & Butcher Anchor 9/8 with Lignum Scales & brass (by gssixgun)... plus matching brush, HMW knot in lignum handle (has greened up since then to match the razor scales)



Final hone on the Escher...




Stropped on the SRD modular paddle... (google image)


And with Truefitt and Hill Ultimate comfort cream... (google image)



Finished my shave half an hour ago, pure bliss... Now looking sharp and ready for an early start tomorrow for the dawn service.

Lest we forget.

May God rest all the Anzac Soldiers lost and the many volunteer Nurses in eternal peace.

From one Commonwealth Nation to another . . . if ye break Faith with those who die . . . Lest we forget.

Posting here as well as the official SOTD thread.
Figured since this was set up especially I'd add a few other images taken by a colleague.


* An old Bengall Razor that belonged to my grandfather (though not from military service)
* A plain brush.
* A hand mirror reflecting the NZ National War Memorial

Nothing fancy would have been available to those who served.

The Pukeahu National War Memorial Park.
Newly opened in Wellington in time for the centenary commemorations.

A night time light show has been set up for the past week as a special tribute to those who served.
I haven't had the opportunity to get in while it has been running but am sharing some images from a colleague.
Arrived for Dawn Service this morning but being an on duty paramedic meant we didn't get to stay.

Soldier & Rifle





New Zealand Flag





Red stone pillars of the Australian Memorial





"Do your part for the war effort"





The Field of Remembrance

ANZAC SOTD
Also while recently going through some of my Grandfathers photos etc I have I came across what's left of my great grand fathers service record book dated 1903 to 1908
With transfers from to South Africa to India also noted as well as ranks etc
Pity the 1st & last few pages are missing

Anzac Day

05:00 hours, damn slept in, no time to shave. Have to get to the dawn parade and be back in time to take my Grandchildren to the ANZAC day service at their school. The morning is cold, foggy, no wind, it always blows here. An eerie feeling.
5 minutes late, I blend in to the back of the crowd. The Vets are there, solemn faces, not many left now, most from Vietnam, medals worn with pride.
Young children cold but cheerful play amongst the crosses and the poppies blissfully unaware.
The speeches are made, the poems are read, the songs are sung, the wreathes are laid.
Bagpipes bellow, drums are beaten, young and old march through the square, past the Cenotaph that has stood there for 94 years.
Tea and scones at the town hall, and I head home.
Soon my Grandchildren arrive, ready with their poppies and cakes, we head off to school. A big crowd has already gathered. More speeches, more prayers, more wreathes and songs.
The children read out the names of the dead, a small school, a long list, the age of the fallen no less than shocking. Just boys. Many of the surnames are of people present at the ceremony.




A young lad I have known for 20 years, now a Captain, is there in uniform and looks splendid. Another young lad I know isn't there. He has already done a tour of duty in Afghanistan, and knowing him could well be on his way to Iraq. A surreal moment.




My neighbor, whose father was a Flight Sergeant in WW2 does a low pass in a bi-plane with another fighter beside. Normally he would have "buzzed" the crowd as his father was known to do, but there was a Wing Commander present, so best behaviour.



The more you learn about Gallipoli, the more insane it seems. 700 men ordered to charge a trench lined with machine guns, 25 minutes later there are 70 left, of them only 10 get out alive.
More than 11,000 ANZACs died on the Gallipoli Peninsula, despite only being there for 8 months.
The ANZACs were all volunteers.


Lest we forget.