Ralph's request
Thursday, 25 April 2013
Sauce: 20:35
There are many song's associated with today that touch people in different ways.
The one embedded in my (young) head is Jimmy Barnes' "No Second Prize" that accompanied a motivational video shown to us at 1RTB.
Jane Smith hears another:
Ralph has another that I think pulls the heart strings of anyone, at any age who has any understanding of the Vietnam War.
Ralph writes:
"Would you please do something special form me
Please Michael post an audio of the song "I was only 19" In memory of the diggers we lost.
Thanks mate."
John Schumann wrote and performed this song after hearing first hand experiences of the war from Mick Storen (his brother in-law) and about Frankie Hunt ("frankie kicked the mine the day that man kind kicked the moon")
Anyway, Ralph... of course.
It makes you weep to think of the millions of the lives lost and damaged in the bloodiest of all centuries, the twentieth.
Posted by: mel | Thursday, 25 April 2013 at 09:19 PM
Here's another one from Adam Brand
http://youtu.be/3Q5sYsN7Mas
Posted by: michelle 2 | Thursday, 25 April 2013 at 09:22 PM
Good on you Ralph.
"Only 19" - Not allowed to drink in pubs but sent out to fight to protect other people's interests. Theirs not to reason why, theirs just to do and die.
My father used to say ... "that is the one thing about the British that you can rely on ... they will always fight to the very last Australian!" King and country seldom meant Australia.
I have always been humbled by the attitude of the Turks to ANZAC Day and to Australians ... the annual remembrance at Gallipoli is an act of extraordinary generosity, and recognition. Their young men were also "only 19", and they lost a damn sight more of them than did the allies.
An excellent choice Ralph ... thank you.
Posted by: Max | Thursday, 25 April 2013 at 09:41 PM
Great stuff. Dire Straits and Redgum.
Another war re: Jimmy Barnes is also right up there....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvqh3ghEqtk
Posted by: Jollybagman | Thursday, 25 April 2013 at 09:42 PM
Good on you, Ralph. Been thinking about you today. Hope Ruby took the padlock off the fridge this morning. Cheers, mate. Have one for me.
Posted by: mervk | Thursday, 25 April 2013 at 09:44 PM
"Performing at The Gum Ball, John Schumann talks to Michael Smith about the up and down sides to having written that song, and singing it on ANZAC Day."
Not THE Michael Smith - but still a good read.
http://www.themusic.com.au/interviews/all/2013/04/23/john-schumann/15099/
This song will go for another 130 years plus.
Thanks for the memories.
Thank you for a great "last post"
Posted by: Dave | Thursday, 25 April 2013 at 09:56 PM
Thank you Michael from myself and Ruby + 9 other diggers listening to this there's not a dry eye among us.
God bless you mate.
Posted by: GOM | Thursday, 25 April 2013 at 10:19 PM
Much as I like the songs mentioned ,the greatest Australian war/ anti-war song was actually written by a Scotsman, Eric Bogle. The song "And the band played waltzing matilda" always gives me a lump in the throat when I hear it.
Reckon Barnsy's "Khe Sanh" is a good runner up.
Posted by: W154 | Thursday, 25 April 2013 at 10:41 PM
Thanks for the music. I did not hear Brothers in Arms,
today-until tonight. Thank you Jane Smith. Heard "I was only 19" early on today. Just rounds out the day.
Each of us with our own individual thoughts, there is much meaning.
At the end of the day.
"Lest we forget".
Regards Fran and Neville.
Posted by: Neville | Thursday, 25 April 2013 at 10:56 PM
Hi Michael
Both these songs are brilliant.
Two more written by Mark Knopfler, from his "Get Lucky" CD, titled - Remembrance Day & Piper To The End, are also a wonderful, respectful tribute to those we honour today.
My humble thanks to the many who have served, the fallen, those who have since passed on, those with the memories & those still serving.
Lest we ever forget.
Posted by: Peter Baxter | Thursday, 25 April 2013 at 11:09 PM
and one for the Diggers in Afghanistan "The Dust of Uruzgan":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SjelOnGWoU
Posted by: Jeff of FNQ | Thursday, 25 April 2013 at 11:16 PM
Best wishes to all the diggers,
Here's a tune we all know.
Thanks for your gifts to Australians now and of the future.
The Viking
Posted by: The Viking | Thursday, 25 April 2013 at 11:22 PM
Trying again with the tune!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=E22gszljklc
Posted by: The Viking | Thursday, 25 April 2013 at 11:23 PM
They too were young and naive but the did what they were asked by their country not to better things for themselves or corrupt union mates.
True Heroes
Posted by: Charlie Foxtrot | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 05:30 AM
No matter how many times I hear 'I was only nineteen' it bring a tear. The god help me I was only nineteen just gives you a slight glimpse into what these young men were thinking, god help them, and lest we forget.
Posted by: jenni cummins | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 05:51 AM
Can someone tell me where that Gilliar trout was yesterday?
I didnt see her, or her red shoes on any new footage
Posted by: gungit | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 07:12 AM
In today's world, which has been foisted on us by the PC Brigade and the rotten, lousy, gangrenous, grotesque, mendacious and wasteful Labor mongrels, I find the only people I can trust are soldiers and ex-soldiers. It is really now at the point where trust and loyalty are things of the past.
Posted by: Paratus | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 07:46 AM
The greatest anti war songs ever written "The Green Fields of France" by Eric Bogle - the line from "Sky Pilot" by Eric Burdon - "But it won't stop the killing, or ease the hate" or another line from "Arkansas Grass" by Brian Cadd and Axiom "So all of us here with the fear in our eyes could go home."
Posted by: Zulu Kilo Two Alpha | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 07:55 AM
I remember the young men who reported in for a medical examination after receiving their call up notices, little did we realise what the unlucky conscripts were going to experience in Vietnam. I was in the CMF at the time but failed the medical on a technicality, a broken jaw ligament.
Having spoken to a few who did serve I am proud of them and also very sorry for what many are suffering to this day. And for those who did not return.
Posted by: Dennis Thompson | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 08:28 AM
Waited to see the ABC New's 7pm news story on the diggers in Afghanistan last night. Instead I got Gillard in makeup, talking stuff we all well know, hogging air time.
Disgusted.
Hail the demolition of the ABC News propagandists some time soon.
Posted by: Arch | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 08:50 AM
I was only 19 brings a tear to my eye. It is an anti-war song as such but it is also the one that is most sympathetic to those who were wounded in war.
It does not matter which war the song was about because there were many soldiers who lost a limb. My grandfather had his leg amputated a year after he was shot in the leg in the first world war and he was very close to that age of 19 when that happened. In those days gangrene was the prime cause of the loss of a limb.
Soldiers who went to Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered the same fate, especially the soldiers in Afghanistan as they have ended up in the path of an IED.
On that note, let us also pause for the more than 200 who were injured in Boston. These people were not soldiers, but they were civilians. The same goes for those who lost limbs in London and Bali. One of those victims who lost a leg was just 6 years old. None of them deserved what happened to them.
Posted by: maggie1954 | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 08:56 AM
Thanks Smithy. I celebrated my nineteenth birthday in 1970 while on R & R in Hong Kong. Wanchai was never the same after that run.
Posted by: Westy | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 09:14 AM
- Mark Knoflers Brothers in Arms - classic, beautiful, haunting - I love it.
Bogles song for the Vietnam boys - poignant in its meaning -one for the Aussies. They were there in large numbers yesterday in Melbourne, with a spring in their step, all the way to the Shrine.
Posted by: Meg | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 10:09 AM
Interesting story on ABC radio this morning re Anzac Day:
English villagers remember Anzacs (as they have done since 1919)
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2013/s3745569.htm?site=northtas
The 26th Division was concentrated at Sutton Veny in April 1915 and No 1 Australian Command was there from the end of 1916 to October 1919. There was also a hutted military hospital of more than 1200 beds at Sutton Veny for much of the war and No 1 Australian General Hospital was stationed there after the Armistice.
Sutton Veny (St John) Churchyard contains 168 First World War burials, 167 of them in a plot at the north west corner of the church. Of these, 143 are Australian.
Posted by: Jeff of FNQ | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 11:44 AM
The Customs media unit today report an intercept and an assist:
Border Protection Command assists vessel - 25 April 2013
HMAS Glenelg operating under the coordination of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre has rendered assistance to a suspected irregular entry vessel that sought assistance north of Christmas Island yesterday.
Current reporting suggests there are 61 people on board.
Border Protection Command intercepts vessel - 25 April 2013
HMAS Launceston, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel north of Ashmore Islands on Tuesday night.
Initial indications suggest there are 53 passengers and two crew on board.
Congratulations must go to Julia Gillard, whose policies have permitted the 100th vessel to arrive this year.
Well done Julia a century in just 114 days.
Posted by: Jeff of FNQ | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 11:53 AM
Off topic but hot topic leading up to budget: the structural deficits.
Grattan Institute was set up in 2008 by Federal Labor, Victorian State Labor and private enterprise. Recently it released a report (link below) regarding alarming budget pressures on Australian government and didn't mince any words...
http://grattan.edu.au/static/files/assets/84a63997/187_budget_pressures_report.pdf
....page three of report, first paragraph says it all about 4% structural annual deficits that will require $60 billion of savings to be found every year in order for budget to be sustainable.
Whoever gets into government will cut spending and increase taxes because there's no choice.
Personal income tax ($151 billion), company tax ($66 billion), social security spending ($127 billion) and health spending ($62 billion) are the 4 biggest items on both revenue and expenditure side of federal budget (2011-12) that be made to dance no matter who wins.
Hence neither party will rule out spending cuts or tax increases. So if Labor goes at the LNP for not ruling out, say, tax increases, Labor itself will be asked the same question and will have no choice but to give the same non-answer.
As for GST redistribution fear-mongering, all states have to agree to any deal according to Piers Akerman. Money can't be taken from one state and given to another unilaterally by Federal government....
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/poor-fiscal-planning-is-to-blame-for-budget-woes/story-e6frezz0-1226629509107
Posted by: Jollybagman | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 12:01 PM
Hi Michael,
if you want to here a song that brings in the true meaning of what went on in WW1 no song or tune compares to Eric Burdon and the Animal's "SKY PILOT".
This song first appeared in 1968 and was telling the story of the priest/chaplin who would bless the soldiers as they went of to fight and die for their country. Its long but has every meaning of what War and Death is all about.
Easily the most underrated anti war song that was ever played on radio.
Posted by: Dawalt | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 02:08 PM
Mike, yesterday I was the proudest Nan: my 15yr old grandson joined the Army cadets this year. About 120 young people began were at the intake, but only about 50 remain in their unit. These young "troops" have been wearing the camouflage uniform since about the third week, but only received their slouch hats and belts, last week. On this occasion the cadets were addressed by a few old diggers. On the way home he spoke about how important our flag and his slouch hat has come to mean to him.
This young man has not had the easiest start to his life, but to see how he is responding to the cadet life with so much pride, is a joy to me. He wore his uniform at School on Wednesday, then yesterday attended the dawn service and again at mid-morning marched and took part in the 10am remembrance.
To witness the pride with which our local marchers participated, was heart-warming.
Thank goodness we are STILL able to sing the sacred hymns at this remembrance service...some of us still remember that this country was settled and formed around Christian values.
ONE MORE THING - on our return home, ABC24 showed clips of our PM placing a wreath on the monument at Townsville, and her speech............I couldn't help thinking of the lady (sorry, person) in red shoes and gloves marching in protest at another ANZAC day parade in Melbourne some years ago.....is it a case of "I was young and naive" OR is she just a @#**#@ hypocrite?
Posted by: Cheryl W. | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 04:11 PM
That song always make me tear up.
Vietnam a war of my generation. I knew boys who served and boys who were conscripted.
Some did not return.
Those who did were treated so badly by the left wing critics. The Maritime Union refused to load supplies and the Postal Unions intercepted the mail. It still makes me angry beyond belief.
Lest We Forget.
Posted by: alice | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 04:39 PM
Not strictly Anzac, but the sentiment is the same - wasted young lives.
This one can bring tears to my eyes.The Green Fields of France:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2YvcB9lW18
Posted by: David | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 04:58 PM
Agree with Pete Baxter @11:09 pm 25 /04/2013 .He hit`s the Irish nerves at times.
Posted by: R we there yet | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 05:20 PM
This is not the reason Bruce and the other brave lads fought overseas, re the following details.
Leon Boughton said on FB.
Illegar boat people,
Arrivals 2009 (aph.qov.au) = 2726
Arrivals 2010 (aph.qov.au) = 6555
Arrivals 2011(aph.qov.au) = 4565
*Arrivals 2012 (news.com.au) = 17,270
Giving a total of 31,111 arrivals since the beginning of 2009
*data from an article on news.com.au dated the 28/01/13 as the data on aph.gov.au only was only current up to the 09/07/12.
The ADF had an average of 57,994 permanent personal in 2011-12, made up of 14,054 Navy, 29,697 Army, and 14,243 Air Force.
Well if you take in to account that the Navy will be no good for an internal uprising and the Air Force will be of little use also in a street to street battle, and that at least 10% of the Army would be non-combat supply and logistics personal, I come up with the figure of 12,819 active ADF members trained and ready if the Muslim Arab Spring was to spread to Australia.
This is a ratio of 2.43 illegal boat people to every combat soldier we have.
Concerning thought don’t you all think?
Posted by: Steve | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 05:49 PM
Good Choice Ralph
Thanks for doing the flowers by the way.
One remembers at 18 having to register,it was frighting enough as it was.\
My great Uncle Claude Ryan rests at Villers Bretonneux he was only 19.
Funny how things don't change all that much when it comes to stupid senseless war.
Posted by: Don of Qld | Friday, 26 April 2013 at 06:48 PM