ANZAC DAY 2009 – Dumbleyung

Veterans and Children Marching on ANZAC Day 2009 - Dumbleyung

Well I organised my towns local ANZAC Day this year, I had great pride in doing this having recently taken over the role from my late father John Sherman who passed away on 31^st December 2008.

I was honored to have carried out this role and I hope that I can carry out the duties as dedicated as my father did so for the last 30 years in Dumbleyung.

Anyhow it was a great turnout, around 10 veterans marched along with some children who proudly wore their late Grand Fathers medals.

Dumbleyung is only a small town of 250 people is the Great Southern – Western Australia.

Flowers on the War Memorial Dumbleyung - ANZAC Day 2009

I would like to share my speech with anyone interested.

Good Morning Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Boys and Girls.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to join you in commemorating today’s ANZAC day ceremony; to me it is great privilege to be with you today and to represent the Dumbleyung Returned Servicemen’s League on this ANZAC day 2009.

We meet here today, not to glorify war or praise victors, but to remember those who have served our country during times of conflict and crisis, and to reflect upon their selfless sacrifice.

In 1996, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit Gallipoli on ANZAC Day, it was a very special occasion and on that day, a day I will remember always, I was inspired.

As I sat on the shores where Australian and New Zealand Soldiers landed, I was inspired to write a poem about the ANZAC Soldiers, a poem I have been waiting for over 10 years to recite, and today I would like to share that poem to you, titled…..

The Bloody Day Before

The bloody day before, those diggers had dreams just like you and I

Dreams of a golden future, dreams of their families and dreams to see their kindred children grow up upon their eye.

“You Country Needs You so Volunteer now!” The men were told.

Fight for King and Country, and Volunteer, that they did, because they were proud and bloody bold.

 Men and even boys, willing to let sacrifice, all their living joys.

So here I sit on this lonely beach called Anzac Cove, where 81 years to the day, our men had done us proud.

I feel the pebbles beneath my feet, the water laps softly on the shore.

So crystal clear the water now, where once it was red from war.

Here I remember, Our Grandfathers, Fathers, sons and brothers.

They came here with a dream, a dream of returning home with a rapid victory.

To celebrate their win with a Sunday roasted chicken, cooked by loving mothers and seated with their fathers, sisters and their awestruck brothers

It was 1am, and the ANZACs mustered on the ships decks.

Sounds of shuffling boots and Soldiers muttered cursing quotes, as the men slipped upon the ships ropen ladders, towards the wooden boats.

The Sailors lined the decks, for the ANZACS in the boats below

They offered silent farewells and cheers as they circle waved their sailors caps, for the anxious men in tow.

Dawn was nearing, it was dark, it was cold, and the sailors’ oars broke awful silence as boats rowed through the ocean water.

 I wonder what the soldiers thought, as they gazed upon the moons reflection, dancing on the water. 

The boats moved silently towards the unseen shoreline, pulling the men towards their fate and uncertain destiny.

Fifteen Hundred ANZACS, were ready, they had waited long enough, tired of being ocean soldiers …. Training on the sea.

Some men joked, some men prayed and some men said nothing, but most of them thought of their beloved distant homeland.

Peaceful countries, Australia and New Zealand.

Silent thoughts, friendly handshakes and good luck pats of mateship upon their sturdy backs.

Good luck my friend, I’ll see you there, and it wont be long till we’re back at home, drinking homemade beer at your Uncle Jacks.

And we’ll be swimming out the lake, with the missus and the kids, just like what we did, on Boxing Day last year.

These men and boys held so tight to lucky charms and kissed their tattered photos of sweethearts, loved and missed so dear.

Bullets cracked towards them and frantic orders were suddenly revived.

For those ANZAC Soldiers their baptism of fire finally had arrived.

Their rifles, oiled and cleaned, bayonets fixed ready for the charge.

Come on boys, lets do our country proud … screamed the Army Sarge!

The ANZACS leapt from boats for the first advance.

Some drowned amongst the panic, most didn’t have a chance.

Some fell so soon, and never touched the water.

Only Just the day before those fallen diggers, laughed and joked and smoked tobacco, they had dreams, just like you and I.

Of the ANZACs who made it ashore, they were blind, they knew not where to go.

But still they fought like heroes as they fought for the tomorrow.

They were the ANZACs, and they are our history.

And because of them, they are our today.

The ANZACs grew old, and now they are gone to another place, to meet their old mates, and to talk about that Bloody Day Before.

So we shall never forget, what they did for us.

They have done us proud and they have become part of our countries folklore.

We should never forget our ANZACs, how brave they were, to risk and sacrifice their lives.

Today we look up to them with utmost respect and pride.

As we remember them. Some of us may shed some tears of sorrow,

Because for the ANZACs, without them, there’d be no bloody tomorrow.

Thankyou.

I would now like to continue with my speech…

To all Australians, ANZAC day is a tradition, paid for in blood and commemorated in our freedom. It is a day in which not only do we salute the ANZACs, but in paying tribute to them, we also take the opportunity to invigorate our national spirit and pride.

On this day, in 1915, a group of volunteer Australian and New Zealand soldiers found themselves wading ashore before dawn at a small beach on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. Many of these men were only teenagers, some as young as 16. All were anxious to prove their courage and national identity.

Over the eight months following the landing, those young ANZAC’s underwent a ‘trial by ordeal’. In total 36,000 Australian and New Zealand soldiers were killed or wounded at Gallipoli.

But in those terrible battles, young Australians earned a reputation for courage, self-reliance and mateship. The experience drew Australians together as a nation and established the national character. The standards that they set and the ANZAC spirit, have been handed down ever since to all the Australian soldiers, sailors and airmen who followed them. From WW2 to Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam, Somalia, Rwanda, East Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan and many peacekeeping operations throughout the world in troubled countries.

This same spirit is represented among the diverse group of veterans gathered here today. As the years go by the numbers will continue to dwindle.

However, the ANZAC spirit forged at Gallipoli will never be forgotten. I believe this is why Australians come together every ANZAC day. We do it to remember the ANZACs and their achievements; and we should remember them not as old soldiers from a distant war, but as the young Australians they were in 1915.

Our vast country with its harsh beauty and open skies, helps to shape healthy, confident, competitive, innovative and freedom, loving individuals, who with good leadership and high motivation, can more than match the best in the world; in whatever they do.

The ANZACs showed us these same qualities. We have the ability to face challenges together and overcome them, to put community before self, to be courageous, determined, self-reliant and strong. We should be proud of our heritage. This is the spirit of ANZAC; the spirit that we must pass to the next generations.

As I said previously, throughout Australia, the numbers of World War 2, Korean War, Vietnam War and Veterans of other Wars or Peacetime Operations who march on ANZAC Day is in decline, due to age, sickness and death.

 

Those Veterans who are know longer with us, who have departed this earth, we represent them today, they are our Grandparents, our Parents, our Brothers, or our Sisters, as some of you including I, we represent them today, we wear their medals with pride and honour.

 

It is nice to see young children here today, who wear their grandfathers medals with pride, I ask those children here today, you are our countries future, so always remember what your fathers grandfathers have done for us, and grow up in a world of respect for others, as have the older people here today have.

 

I thank those children here today, who have marched proudly down the street, wearing their grandfathers medals … they would be very proud of you today as you marched with your heads hung high.

 

Today in Dumbleyung, we are presented with men who have proudly served their country, in both wartime and in peacetime. These men were volunteers and enlisted men.

 

I would like to read a very brief history of the Men who are here today and what armed service these men served in.

 

Dumbleyung

 

Jo Pearce – Word War Two – Australian Military Forces and Prisoner of War

Dave Ware – Word War Two – Royal Airforce and the Royal Australian Airforce

Basil Farmer – Australian Military Forces

Chris Chamberlain – Vietnam – Royal Australian Army

Graham Harwood – Royal Australian Navy

Bill Wright – Royal Australian Army

Lance Bartram – Royal Australian Army

Stephen Hughes – The Australian Army Reserve

Bill Sherman – Royal Australian Army / Royal Australian Navy

 

 

As time goes by, our veterans pass away, so to conclude this ceremony, I would like to pay a special tribute to my Father, John Sherman, whom most of you know passed away late last year. Dad was a a career soldier of 25 Years in the Australian Army and a Vietnam Veteran and it was with great pride that Dad organised many ANZAC Day Ceremonies in Dumbleyung and took charge of the lowering and raising of the Australian Flag on occasions of Remembrance and Mourning.

 

Many old diggers and friends will miss him today, and it is with great pride that I wear his medals on my chest today. Something he knew I would do without question.

 

I am very proud to have taken over Dads role for what I hope to be many more ANZAC Days to come. I am sure Dad would have Saluted us as we marched down the street today, Dad if your listening today, you’ve done us proud, and most of all, you’ve done me proud old timer. I was blessed to have such a wonderful loving father.

 

And finally, please allow me to read one more poem, a poem which by chance I heard a few days ago, being recited by a veteran at the Narrogin Nursing Home.

 

The poem is about a Soldier who has died in battle, or even an old veteran who survived the war, and it is time for him to go to heaven, to pass away.

 

The Final Inspection

 

The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

“Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To my Church have you been true?”

The soldier squared his soldiers and said,
“No, Lord, I guess I ain’t.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can’t always be a saint.

I’ve had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I’ve been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
That wasn’t mine to keep…
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills just got too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I’ve wept unmanly tears.

I know I don’t deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.

If you’ve a place for me here, Lord,
It needn’t be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don’t, I’ll understand.”

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgement of his God.

“Step forward now, you soldier,
You’ve borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven’s streets,
You’ve done your time in Hell.”

 

 

My Mum Nancy and I - Dumbleyung War Memorial

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