Armistice Day, November 11th

Poppy Day.

Remembrance Day

The eleventh day of the eleventh month.

When the first big war of the twentieth century ended.

This is for Edward Russell (Ted) Bates who died in battle in France on 1st June, 1918, aged 30. My Great Uncle.

It is also for my parents who both took part in WW2 and for Colin, a cousin and Jeff, a friend who both did the Vietnam thing. And for Graham, who left both legs in Vietnam and returned to enter Parliament to help make a difference. Matthew Locke and David Pearce are also remembered.
And for all those others who either died or had something inside them die in the service of Australia.

Especially for those currently in Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor, The Solomon Islands and the other trouble spots where Australian troops are helping.

For returning home is not the end of war.

Mum and Dad and Denny saw the passing out parade at Puckapunyal
(It was a long march from cadets).
The sixth battalion was the next to tour and it was me who drew the card.
We did Canungra and Shoalwater before we left.

And Townsville lined the footpath as we marched down to the quay.
This clipping from the paper shows us young and strong and clean.
And there’s me in my slouch hat with my SLR and greens.
God help me, I was only nineteen.

From Vung Tau riding Chinooks to the dust at Nui Dat,
I’d been in and out of choppers now for months.
But we made our tents a home. VB and pinups on the lockers,
And an Asian orange sunset through the scrub.

And can you tell me, doctor, why I still can’t get to sleep?
And night time’s just a jungle dark and a barking M-16?
And what’s this rash that comes and goes, can you tell me what it means?
God help me, I was only nineteen.

A four week operation, when each step can mean your last one
On two legs: it was a war within yourself.
But you wouldn’t let your mates down ’til they had you dusted off,
So you closed your eyes and thought about something else.

Then someone yelled out “Contact”, and the bloke behind me swore.
We hooked in there for hours, then a God almighty roar.
Frankie kicked a mine the day that mankind kicked the moon.
God help me, he was going home in June.

And I can still see Frankie, drinking tinnies in the Grand Hotel
On a thirty-six hour rec leave in Vung Tau.
And I can still hear Frankie, lying screaming in the jungle.
‘Till the morphine came and killed the bloody row.

And the Anzac legends didn’t mention mud and blood and tears.
And stories that my father told me never seemed quite real
I caught some pieces In my back that I didn’t even feel.
God help me, I was only nineteen.

And can you tell me, doctor, why I still can’t get to sleep?
And why the Channel Seven chopper chills me to my feet?
And what’s this rash that comes and goes, can you tell me what it means?
God help me, I was only nineteen.

The song as sung by the Australian Band, “Redgum” -The MP3 is 633.03Kb and plays for 3:55 minutes – ©Copyright Date Unknown by John Schuman

For those who are missing the Aussie slang and references.

• Puckapunyal, Conungra, Shoalwater: Australian Army training bases
• Townsville: City in Queensland and major Army Barracks
• SLR: 7.62mm Self Loading Rifle – standard Army weapon of the era
• greens: Jungle green uniform
• VB: Victoria Bitter – an Australian brand of beer
• tinnies: Cans of beer
• rec leave: recreation leave
• Anzac: Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
• Channel Seven: An Australian Television Network