25 April is Anzac Day for Australian's and New Zealanders.
“ANZAC” was the name given to a combined force of First Australian Imperial Force and New Zealand Army troops who landed on Turkey’s Gallipoli Peninsula at around dawn on Sunday, the 25th day of April, 1915, barely nine months after the outbreak of World War I.
Once again we remembered this national day and the sacrifices of so many in smaller gatherings due to the continuing Covid pandemic. This year as last year, we held a small service at dawn at the end of our street.
At the beginning of the service this year I read this poem I found on the internet. Written by Miss MG Meugens, she wrote poetry about the Great War and was published in magazines and newspapers of the time, and in a couple of anthologies. The poem below was published in Country Life magazine in England.
This photo below is from the National Museum of Australia. If you are ever in Canberra you should visit the Australian War Memorial and it's huge collection of artefacts and historical documents.
I couldn't find out much about Miss MG Meugens, but as my great-uncle was killed at Gallipoli on 27 April 1915 at the age of 19, only a few days into the conflict, the poem touched a special cord with me. He is one of the fallen who still lay in an unmarked grave at Gallipoli. He looks so young and proud in these two photos. Sadly his future was cut short.
I've written about Anzac Day many times before:
Country Life magazine was founded by Edward Burgess Hudson in 1897. The magazine is still in print today. You can search vantage back copies here.
.For more poems about World War 1 click here
For more about Anzac Day click here
Thank you so much for stopping by. I have a very busy week ahead getting ready for my art market at the Dardanup Art Spectacular and Art Trail this weekend 1-2 May.
I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week.
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
All Seasons
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf
Sharon's Sovenirs
Our World Tuesday
Pictorial Tuesday
ThroughMy Lens
Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity.
and Little bird - Pienilintu
Thankful Thursday
Der-Natur-Thursday
The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit
Month end link up @ Live love craft me
Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.
How lovely to celebrate Anzac Day and the dawn service with your neighbours - a great example of mateship which is one of the enduring threads when we read about the lives of those in action at the time. Your Great-Uncle does indeed look young and proud, such a terrible loss and at such a young age. Good luck with your upcoming art market.
ReplyDeleteWar brings so much sadness and loss. You can imagine if they had lived what lives they might have had.
ReplyDeleteYou are bringing up an important point, Jill. I think a sacrifice is never in vain, because it is a gift from the heart! God knows what he is doing - taking someone home who is only 19, or someone at 109. Nothing is lost in either case.Part of my taking a couple of steps back is because I want things to count, instead of being in a constant rush, without having time to process what I am doing!Someone already offered to continue, but I like to wait till Friday to decide:) Have a great week, and beautiful summer (after the last one, you deserve it:):) Jesh
ReplyDeleteJill - we must remember our history, or we are wont to repeat it! And these sacrifices must not be in vain. Your great-uncle looks much older than 19 in the photos - I think people looked more sophisticated back then, for some reason. The clothing? The hairstyles? Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday, and I wish you much success at your upcoming art market!
ReplyDeleteThe War Memorial is a wonderful tribute to our past. We have visited a few times and it is so moving and very helpful for researching.
ReplyDeleteWe should never forget our past, so interesting to read about Anzac Day as I'm from the UK. Your uncle looks so proud to be serving his country, a beautiful young man to ake such a sacrifice xxx
ReplyDeleteIt's imporant to remember the meaninglessness and the losses caused by war.
ReplyDeleteThis tragic story reminds me of my fathers young cousin, who was shot by the nazis in world war II. We sometimes pass the memorial site in the forest where he, and other young men were shot.
A wonderful way to mark a hard time in history. Thank you for linking up.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely tribute.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being a part of 'My Corner of the World' this week!