Tell us your ANZAC story, Lest we Forget

[jaydee]

In memory of those who fought for our country/freedom, I thought maybe we could share our family heroes.

My Great Grandfather Alexander Whiteley, 2nd Pioneer Battalion, departed Fremantle 11/05/1917 for Europe. Was wounded, sent back to London for medical, recuperated, back to the front as a trench digger.
Returned a damaged man mentally 23/07/1919


My Pop was in PNG for WW2, Sgt in the RAAF. An aircraft mechanic and weapons engineer. Bottom far right, in front of a Beaufort bomber


A couple of years ago I went to Villers Brettoneux for Anzac Day, bumped into Cpl Mark Donaldson, a VC recipient.

[whitelion65]

I think your grandad may have travelled over with mine.
He sailed on the Wiltshire, I think.
Also served in 2nd Pioneers.
He was a man of great faith, and although badly wounded at the end of the war, returned to a full life.
Lest We Forget

[jaydee]

Shropshire was the ship he went on, stopped off in Sth Africa on the way.

[Itsme]

I visited Princess Royal Fortress in Albany many years which is an experience in it self, the most moving part for me was at the lookout looking over King George Sound where the troop ships would have departed Australia in WWI; for many who would never come back home to Australia.
This was something that really stirred some emotion in me.

My Dad served in WWII in the Middle East and PNG and was never the same after that but he one of many who suffered.

Lest We Forget.

[Peter B - CV8]

My step father never got to meet his father. His mother married 3 months before her husband was send to Gallipoli & was promptly killed in shell fire within weeks of his arrival.

[LG17]

My father and my uncle both were in WW2 and served in the Middle East, New Guinea and Darwin. Both made it through with injuries but were physically ok. Mentally is a different story.
I was 20 in the Nasho raffle period but my number didn't come up.

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by jaydee

A couple of years ago I went to Villers Brettoneux for Anzac Day,

My Grandfather was at Villers Brettoneux, Lied about His Age to Enlist. Got Badly gassed at Villers Brettoneux. Suffered respiratory Problems for the rest of His Life. But Still Lived to the ripe Old age of 86..

[Cav]

[xkxlxm]

One of Dad's uncles was killed in France in WW1. Dad and all of his brothers joined up in WW2 except one who was kept back by their father. One of Dad's brothers was killed in the Pacific. One of his cousins (don't know if Dad knew him at all) was killed in Europe. Dad never went to any ANZAC day stuff that I can remember - I don't know why; maybe he just didn't get round to it; he wasn't in the RSL and he wasn't a drinker. I never go to ANZAC day ceremonies; no disrespect meant by that.

[xkxlxm]

I should have also mentioned Mum's brother who, I pretty sure, was in the army.