ANZAC Day

[Incongruous]

Today in NZ and Aussie we remember the ANZAC's of both World Wars.

Lest we forget.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY_ezjs0vkI

[aimlesswanderer]

Well, I think we remember everyone who served, though with special focus on a campaign we lost.

[PanzerJaeger]

Excellent soldiers, in both wars.

I remember reading somewhere around the time of the Siege of Tobruk that Rommel once commented with envy and disgust that the British were augmented with Australians while he only had Italians.

[pevergreen]

The regiments commenced the charge at 4.30 pm, the 12th on the left and the 4th on the right. They advanced by squadrons (i.e., three waves) with about 500 yards between squadrons. They were armed with bayonets in hand; their rifles were slung over their shoulders. The Australian 11th Light Horse Regiment and the British 5th Mounted Brigade followed more slowly to the rear, and the British 7th Mounted Brigade, which was attached to the Desert Mounted Corps headquarters, also approached from the south.

The Turkish artillery opened fire with shrapnel from long range but it was ineffective against the widely spaced horsemen. Turkish machine guns that opened fire from the left (which might have inflicted heavy casualties) were quickly silenced by a battery of horse artillery. When the line of horsemen got within range of the Turkish riflemen in the trenches, they started to take casualties but the defenders failed to allow for the speed of their approach so once they were within half a mile of the trenches, the defenders' bullets started passing overhead as they found it difficult to alter the sights on rifles quickly enough when confronted with rapidly moving horsemen. This kept the numbers of casualties low for the charging Light Horsemen.

The light horsemen jumped the front trenches and dismounted behind the line where they turned and engaged the Turks with bayonets. The Turks were in many cases so demoralised that they quickly surrendered. One Australian, who was dazed after having his horse shot from under him, recovered to find his five attackers with their hands up, waiting to be taken prisoner.

I remember things such as this. This and the people I know that have served.

[Gregoshi]

I visited the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne when I was there last June-July. It was as moving an experience as the monuments or battlefield I've visited here in the US.