Poetry as a primary source.Like the Storm that's in the making When the rumbling thunder runs And the hills and valleys tremble THAT'S THE THUNDER OF THE GUNS. When the aiming posts are planted And the firing order comes, Then the layers work their magic With their sight and bubble runs Then the check is on the charges And the range that's on the drum, Then the muzzle flashes lightning THAT'S THE THUNDER OF THE GUNS. It's the fury of the battle When the understanding comes That the Gunner is forever A partner with the Guns The Gunner's pride is legend And the battles he has won, Bring Regimental Honours THROUGH THE THUNDER OF THE GUNS. With the smoking breeches empty And the dust and cordite gone There's a rumble in the distance THAT'S THE THUNDER OF THE GUNS The Gods of War have finished And the sands of time have run; But always there's a memory of THE THUNDER OF THE GUNS. And as today becomes the future Our sons will tell their sons, That the men whose blood they carry KNEW THE THUNDER OF THE GUNS. In the valley of the shadows When his comrades are as one Their hearts will surely gladden For they're the only one's That understand the music IN THE THUNDER OF THE GUNS. NX12891 W.S.T. Stacey 2/3rd Field Regiment regiment In most armies, a body of troops headed by a colonel and divided into companies, battalions, or squadrons. French cavalry units were called regiments as early as 1558. In early U.S. As people interested in the pursuit of Military History you are well aware of the importance of quoting a primary source to verify (1) To prove the correctness of data. (2) In data entry operations, to compare the keystrokes of a second operator with the data entered by the first operator to ensure that the data were typed in accurately. See validate. any historical claim. You have probably used such things as Battalion battalion Tactical military organization composed of a headquarters and two or more companies, batteries, or similar units and usually commanded by a field-grade officer such as a lieutenant colonel. War Diaries, oral interviews with campaign veterans, battle maps, personal diaries and letters, Official Histories and so on. An abundant primary source available to historian's, yet little used, are the poems, written by soldiers either before, during or after an action. In this paper I will refer to a number of poems from different campaigns and eras as we explore the development of the ANZAC An·zac n. A soldier from New Zealand or Australia. [A(ustralian and) N(ew) Z(ealand) A(rmy) C(orps).] An legend over the last 89 years. In the time available I will use the poems to pose some of the questions that could be considered by a researcher pursuing this topic. They are by no means complete. I believe the ANZAC legend had its genesis during the Boer War Boer War: see South African War. in South Africa South Africa, Afrikaans Suid-Afrika, officially Republic of South Africa, republic (2005 est. pop. 44,344,000), 471,442 sq mi (1,221,037 sq km), S Africa. and Major Andrew Barton Sir Andrew Barton (c. 1466 – August 2, 1511) served as High Admiral of Scotland. Notorious in England and Portugal as a 'pirate', Barton was a seaman who operated under the aegis of a letter of marque on behalf of the Scottish crown, and is therefore more widely described as Patterson Patterson, family of American journalists. Robert Wilson Patterson, 1850–1910, b. Chicago, grad. Williams, 1871, became (1871) a reporter on the Chicago Times and after 1873 was attached to the Chicago Tribune. hints at this in his poem "Our Own Flag". THEY mustered us up with a royal din, In wearisome weeks of drought. Ere ever the half of the crops were in, Or half of the sheds cut out. 'Twas down with saddle and spurs and whip The swagman dropped his swag. And we hurried us offto and outbound ship To fight for the English flag. The English flag--it is ours in sooth We stand by it wrong or right. But deep in our hearts is the honest truth We fought for the sake of a fight. And the English flag may flutter and wave Where the World-wide Oceans toss, But the flag the Australian dies to save Is the flag of the Southern Cross. If ever they want us to stand the brunt Of a hard-fought, grim campaign, We will carry our flag up to the front When we go to the wars again. Major Patterson's statement "we fought for the sake of a fight" hints at an Australian Australian pertaining to or originating in Australia. Australian bat lyssavirus disease see Australian bat lyssavirus disease. Australian cattle dog a medium-sized, compact working dog used for control of cattle. character trait trait (trat) 1. any genetically determined characteristic; also, the condition prevailing in the heterozygous state of a recessive disorder, as the sickle cell trait. 2. a distinctive behavior pattern. , that history was later to prove, and is the corner stone of the ANZAC legend. Australians are good battlefield soldiers regardless of their parade ground efficiency. When the Australians and New Zealanders This is a list of well-known people associated with New Zealand. Art A
 '), city (1990 pop. they
did not know they were forging any legend. The next poem written during
the Gallipoli Campaign Gallipoli campaign, 1915, Allied expedition in World War I for the purpose of gaining control of the Dardanelles and Bosporus straits, capturing Constantinople, and opening a Black Sea supply route to Russia. by an original ANZAC, Oscar Walters Wal·ters , Barbara Born 1931.American television newscaster and reporter. After working for the National Broadcasting Company (1963-1976), she joined the American Broadcasting Company (1976-1979) and became the first woman to anchor the nightly is titled "One Sunday Sunday: see Sabbath; week. Mornin" ONE Sunday mornin' on Gallipoli Old Joe came over to where Bill an' me 'Ad dug our possie. 'Way round on the right It was, an' lumme, wasn't 'e a sight! 'E'd 'ad a shave an' bath, just bloomin' swank, With water pinched out 'o the Colonel's tank An' we got talkin' then as soldiers do, About the rum, the sergeant and the stew, An' 'ow we'd told the corp. to go to 'Ell, An' when we would be goin' for a spell. An' then old Joe--'e was a well-read chap-- Starts tellin' us about a ten years' scrap They 'ad in Troy, which wasn't far away, So Joe made out, from where we were that day. A bloke 'ad pinched a bonzer tabby, then 'Er own bloke came to get 'er back again, An' all 'is cobbers came to see fair play, An' in the end they got 'er safe away But Bill, 'e didn't think a scrap could start And last ten years about a blankey tart; No jane 'e 'd ever met was worth a brawl. There must be something else behind it all. But Joe insisted it was so-- 'All "Elen's doin'--'e 'd read a lot 'ad Joe. Then Bill said 'e couldn't see no sense In that at all, not meanin' no offence To Joe an' all the stuff that 'e 'ad read: 'But where's the sense in any war?' Joe said. An' none of us said nothin' for a bit. An' then the flamin' sergeant came an' blew Us up an' told us offfor fattigew, An' so we found no answer to it; yet Maybe we got as near as any get When we sat talkin', Joe and Bill an' me, One Sunday mornin' on Gallipoli. The simplistic sim·plism n. The tendency to oversimplify an issue or a problem by ignoring complexities or complications. [French simplisme, from simple, simple, from Old French; see simple description of the Trojan Wars Trojan War, in Greek mythology, war between the Greeks and the people of Troy. The strife began after the Trojan prince Paris abducted Helen, wife of Menelaus of Sparta. When Menelaus demanded her return, the Trojans refused. conveyed by the poem sets the scene for Joe to ask the philosophical question about the sense of War and the wider question implied in that "why do soldiers fight?" The last four lines sum up those soldiers attitude to that intangible yet vexing question. AN' SO WE FOUND NO ANSWER TO IT YET MAYBE WE GOT AS NEAR AS ANY GET WHEN WE SAT TALKIN' JOE AND BILL AND ME ONE SUNDAY MORNIN' ON GALLIPOLI As the First World War progressed Australians were committed to two distinct theatres--The Western Front in France and Flanders Flanders (flăn`dərz), former county in the Low Countries, extending along the North Sea and W of the Scheldt (Escaut) River. It is divided among East Flanders and West Flanders provs., Belgium; Nord and Pas-de-Calais depts. , and in the Middle East as part of the Great Ride from Egypt Egypt (ē`jĭpt), Arab. Misr, biblical Mizraim, officially Arab Republic of Egypt, republic (2005 est. pop. 77,506,000), 386,659 sq mi (1,001,449 sq km), NE Africa and SW Asia. to Damascus Damascus (dəmăs`kəs), Arabic Dimashq or ash-Sham, city (1995 est. pop. 1,500,000), capital of Syria and of its Damascus governorate, SW Syria, on the eastern edge of the Anti-Lebanon Mts. . There is much contention as to who had the roughest time--those fighting the Hun Hun Any member of a nomadic pastoralist people who invaded southeastern Europe c. AD 370. Appearing from central Asia after the mid-4th century, they first overran the Alani, who occupied the plains between the Volga and Don rivers, and then overthrew the Ostrogoths in the static warfare of the trenches, or those fighting Johny Johny may refer to:
TIMOTHY HOGG was a bold Camelier From the land of the setting sun; And the girls gave Timmy a rousing cheer When he started to mop up the Hun. He trekked over Egypt and Sinai; He led the Jacko's dance, And he gleefully cried, as he winked his eye: "I'm lucky I'm not in France When Abdul came out with a mighty charge, And Romani was fought and won, Tim stopped some shrapnel, good and large; For a while his work was done. They packed him offwith his blood soaked gear In a ricketty ambulance; But the driver laughed, as the shells dropped near: "We're lucky we're not in France." At Rafa and Maghdaba, Timothy fought, Got a holiday wound as well "'it's not such a joke as the home folk thought for Jacko can fight like hell." He opened his mail in careless glee, Then swore, and looked askance. Said his "bint" and his Ma, and his sisters three: "You're lucky you're not in France." At Gaza's heights the Light Horse dashed Our Cameliers charged in vein; The Welsh were slautered, Scots were smashed; In the Wadi blood flowed like rain. Then Tim heard an officer--who at Mons Had stemmed the Huns' advance-- Exclaim, amid the roar of the murdering guns, "I wish I was back in France." And how does that add to the foundation of the ANZAC legend? The poem demonstrates that amid the horror and destruction of battle the Australian Soldiers sense of humour Noun 1. sense of humour - the trait of appreciating (and being able to express) the humorous; "she didn't appreciate my humor"; "you can't survive in the army without a sense of humor" sense of humor, humor, humour was a release for what he had to endure. The motorisation n. 1. motorization. Noun 1. motorisation - the act of motorizing (equiping with motors or with motor vehicles) motorization effectuation, implementation - the act of implementing (providing a practical means for accomplishing something); of the Australian Army The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. was experimented with between the wars by the inclusion of an armoured car troop within the Light Horse Regiments The Light Horse Regiment (formerly the Imperial Light Horse Regiment (ILH)) is an armoured regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit. , but it was not until 1940 and in some cases 1941 that the Light Horse Regiments were fully motorised Adj. 1. motorised - equipped with a motor or motors; "a motorized wheelchair" motored, motorized . This next poem provides an example of the attitude of one anonymous Light Horseman written on the occasion of the conversion of the 24th Light Horse Regiment to the 24th Motor Regiment. Its title, simply "Conversion".
THERE'S an undertone of sadness running thro' the Regiment,
There's a sorrow that's unspoken--'tis a horseman's sad lament,
For the heads have spoken and it's they who runs this "Show",
They're putting us in Motor Cars and the horses have to go.
The horses will be paddocked since their usefulness has passed,
The horselines will be silent and the gear all stacked at last,
The jingle of the snaffles and creak of riding gear,
The tramping of the iron-shod hooves, that's music to the ear.
And the sweaty smell of horseflesh when the long day's ride is
done,
And the busy scene at stables at the setting of the sun.
All those long and silent vigils thro' frosty winters night,
Watching tired horses sleeping beneath the stars unfailing light.
All the stablemen and picquets, all the things we've learned to
know,
Will be scrapped with spurs and leggings once the horses have to go.
And the hands that hold the curbing rein, where hoofbeats led,
Will have to handle levers or a steering wheel instead.
There's no glamour or tradition of machines in history,
Like the cavalcade of triumphs of the dashing cavalry.
Thro' a thousand years of history countless stories have been told
Of the valour and the courage of the horse and soldier bold.
But the times have changed in Warfare as they've changed in every
game
We must modernise our killing tho' the objects just the same.
We must think in terms of engines as we've never thought before
And the folk who work the factories are the one's who'll win this
war.
All the squatters and the cockies from the scrubs and plains out
west,
All the drovers and the stockmen, all the shearers and the rest,
Have to turn their minds to engines and forget the things they've
done,
For this is a war of experts and mechanics--with a gun.
There are men who ride the skyways who for years just rode the "run"
On the stations that lie westward neath the scorching summer sun.
There are men in tanks and carriers, there are men in every force
Who have lived across a saddle somewhere on the Watercourse.
There are men who rode the ridges over Warialda way,
There are men who rode the mountains riding on the sea today,
And the horse is getting rarer in the wars they fight today
Midst the clash of tanks and bombers, a Neddie has no part to play.
So they'll send him back a roaming in the paddocks that he knew,
He will miss the care and grooming and the comradeship that grew
Between him and his rider, thro' the years that now have flown.
He will miss the crowded horselines when he wanders on his own.
He will miss the man who helped him thro' the blazing years of
drought,
And the man will miss the horse he could not do without.
And I seem to sense that sadness, like a shadow in the air,
Tho' its silent and unspoken I can somehow feel it there.
We must re-adjust our outlook as a Mounted Motor Force,
But we still will miss that comradeship and a fondness for a horse.
And the boys will feel it keenly as the parting moment nears,
But there's a job to finish and there'll be no time for tears.
They will manage without horses, when they come from the north,
And the answer will be 'Present' when they call the 24th.
This poem demonstrates that the ANZAC characteristic of adaptability a·dapt·a·ble adj. Capable of adapting or of being adapted. a·dapt  a·bil would be taken up and carried on by the sons of ANZACS in
World War Two.
Having spent some time as an Artillery artillery, originally meant any large weaponry (including such ancient engines of war as catapults and battering rams) or war material, but later applied only to heavy firearms as opposed to small arms. Signaller I present the next poem because of its historical accuracy and as a tribute to all former and present Sigs. Written by VX64158 "The Signaller's Reward" THE Signaller knocked at the Pearly Gate, His face looked worn and old: He meekly asked the man of Fate For admission to the fold. "What have you done," asked Peter, "To seek admission here?" "Oh I've worked hard as a signaller for several weary years." The Pearly Gate swung open wide As Peter touched the bell, "Come in and take your harp," he said "You've seen enough of Hell." The next poem comes from the Levant Levant (ləvănt`) [Ital.,=east], collective name for the countries of the eastern shore of the Mediterranean from Egypt to, and including, Turkey. Campaign conducted against the Vichey French in Syria Syria (sēr`ēə), officially Syrian Arab Republic, republic (2005 est. pop. 18,449,000), 71,467 sq mi (185,100 sq km), W Asia. It borders on Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea in the west, on Turkey in the northwest and north, on Iraq in the and Lebanon during 1941 & 1942 written by Corporal CORPORAL. An epithet for anything belonging to the body, as, corporal punishment, for punishment inflicted on the person of the criminal; corporal oath, which is an oath by the party who takes it being obliged to lay his hand on the Bible. CORPORAL, in the army. Hammond MM. The title "The Boys of the D. R. Run" THE rides of Turpin and Paul Revere We've heard in ballads galore, But here is one of a D.R. run In the hectic days of war. We called one "Wun Gun" Williams, His mate, "California" Kyte, A rootin' tootin' pair of lads Brimful of mischievous guile. From the sunny land of Aussie To the hills of Lebanon, These laddies came to win some fame That their memory might linger on. Sure, it was on that fateful day That a call came ringing clear, Two S.D.Rs for a special job, And "Wun Gun" and Kyle said "Here." They jumped astride their saddles And gave their starter a kick, With a bang and a roar they were on their way, I'll say those boys were slick. They hit the road in a cloud of dust And soon were out of sight, Through gravel and sand they rode their steeds And nought could withstand their might. "Wun Gun" was in front at the village, "California" right on his rear, When they skittled the Muktar's favourite goat, Which caused his bints to cheer. At the bend of the road, a camel Was chewing his cud for a while, When a "Whoosh" and a roar and up went the score To "California" Kyle Some Bedouins were straggling along the road With their donkeys and goats and sheep, When the tornadoes struck and passed them by-- You can bet there was plenty of weep. "Wun Gun" collected a sheep and a donk, "California" a Luscious bint, Who was laying across his handlebars And whose eyes held a wondrous glint. "My Sheikh" she cried, and threw her arms Around his manly neck, And "California" went into a slide And nearly hit the deck. "Good fishing," yelled "Wun Gun" to his mate As they sped along the track, "But I'm afraid you can't do that there hear, You'll have to throw her back." Through village and town they sped along And their scores were mounting up, But "Wun Gun" was leading the tally By two chooks and a terrier pup. And as they neared the end of the trail, The end of another run, They turned about and headed for home With another job well done. Did D. R.'s traverse traverse - traversal the Levant in such a cavalier cavalier (kăv'əlĭr`), in general, an armed horseman. In the English civil war the supporters of Charles I were called Cavaliers in contradistinction to the Roundheads, the followers of Parliament. fashion as the poem implies and compete amongst themselves for the best score as though they were participating in yet another form of sport? Were these soldiers adding to the ANZAC legend, which was by this time well established, because to them War was just another form of Sport to be played hard in the company of good mates? The next poem is taken from the Vietnam era Vietnam Era is a term used by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to classify veterans of the Vietnam War. The Vietnam Era is considered to have begun in 1964 and ended in 1975. The U.S. Congress, U.S. some fifty years after Oscar Walters posed his question, and was written by John Moller. Its title "Contact Front". Contact, contact front drop you packs run like hell from the track hearts all thumping jellied knees watch that bloke behind those trees chuck us a belt of ammo mate don't stuff around it'll be too late run and roll dive and crawl watering eyes in cordite pall fluttering bowels God I'm scared at least it's a feeling mutually shared take a deep breath shoot low and fast this is no game it could mean death it's just a reaction shaking like that watch for movement and men in black careful aim steady those hands don't want bleed on their bloody land grenade's flat crack now its all done so grab your packs hot barrelled guns a good job boys flanking attack we killed them all those buggers in black. The short sharp phrases illustrate how quickly an engagement with the enemy occurred, how quickly the well practiced drills kicked in, the immediate adrenalin Adrenalin /Adren·a·lin/ (ah-dren´ah-lin) trademark for preparations of epinephrine. A·dren·a·lin A trademark for a preparation of epinephrine. rush, the reliance on your mates, the mutually shared fear that had to be overcome, and was by concentrating on the task, and the elation elation /ela·tion/ (e-la´shun) emotional excitement marked by acceleration of mental and bodily activity, with extreme joy and an overly optimistic attitude. of survival when the contact was brought to a successful conclusion. How does this poem address Oscar Walters philosophical question? It relates to the un-initiated how personal close contact with the enemy is, and the reliance on the team effort to bring the contact to successful conclusion. I believe this poem provides another answer to Wakers question: Soldiers fight for each other, and in doing so help ensure their own survival. Also the perception of Soldiers by the general public is often not the way it is, or was. It is the responsibility of the Military Historian to represent what it means to commit to that unwritten LAW, UNWRITTEN, or lex non scripta. All the laws which do not come under the definition of written law; it is composed, principally, of the law of nature, the law of nations, the common law, and customs. contract when a soldier enlists, that the forfeiture The involuntary relinquishment of money or property without compensation as a consequence of a breach or nonperformance of some legal obligation or the commission of a crime. The loss of a corporate charter or franchise as a result of illegality, malfeasance, or Nonfeasance. of life could be a possibility. "Not Real Soldiers" by Corporal John Seag looks at this situation from the soldiers view point. Medals are worn for this day in November, People gathered to give thanks and remember. Soldiers march proudly as bands start to play, "Not real soldiers those Musos" I heard a youth say Regarded as layabouts and Nudgers by some "What did you do in the war? Only carry a drum". Pride gives to anger and anger to tears, My memory flashes back and my youth reappears. The Minstrel Boys to the war they've gone, Medical kit and rifle replace the sword girded on. Instruments packed and left back at the base, Patrolling the jungles their fear they must face. Mines! Gunfire! and, screaming the word that they dread, "Medic" was cried there's wounded and dead. They're attending to wounded to try ease their pain, And look upon faces that won't fight again. "Not real soldiers those Musos!" I hcard a youth say, It was two Aussie Musos killed in battle that day. I remember the good times, the danger, the price, Whether Musos or Drivers they laid down their life. Their country they've served, their duty they've done, For soldiers of all trades, moulded as one Age shall not weary, nor all years condemn, They're resting with diggers, Men amongst Men. To all fallen Minstrels remembered this day, "Australia's finest! Real Soldiers"! I heard a youth say. The final poem was written in East Timor East Timor (tē`môr) or Timor-Leste (–lĕsht), Tetum Timor Lorosae, republic, officially Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (2002 est. pop. in 1999 eighty-four years after Oscar Walters wrote "One Sunday Mornin". The poem is titled "East Timor" and was written by Corporal Laurie Carr Laurie Carr is an American model and actress. She was chosen as Playboy's Playmate of the Month in December, 1986. Laurie went on to marry and divorce Robbin Crosby, the lead guitarist from the heavy metal group Ratt, who died of a heroin overdose (not AIDS as . On distant foreign soil they stand, with loaded rifle close at hand. With the barbed wire, dust and flies, and quiet time at dawns sunrise. To keep a truce that still treads wary, between antagonists and sides contrary To regulate a dotted line, that all the sides still define. A rifle cracks and battle started, heartbeats race with fear departed Peace time training proves well spent, not wasted on the soldiers sent. Still, the politicians talk, the cost of training at which they baulk. The Canberra banter to's and fro's, whilst the digger in the battle knows, that regardless of the current trends, the ANZAC legend will never end. That when the call to arms is heard, and battle replaces the spoken word. When staring down a rifle's sight, The descendants of ANZAC will always fight. Cry not should one soldier fall, if in this fight they give their all. Cry one, cry all in memory, for all the ones who keep us free. Does that poem confirm Andrew Paterson's statement in "Our Own Flag" and answer Oscar Walters 88 year old question? The result of the ANZAC legend in 1999: "THE DESCENDANTS DESCENDANTS. Those who have issued from an individual, and include his children, grandchildren, and their children to the remotest degree. Ambl. 327 2 Bro. C. C. 30; Id. 230 3 Bro. C. C. 367; 1 Rop. Leg. 115; 2 Bouv. n. 1956. 2. OF ANZAC WILL ALWAYS FIGHT" I leave it to you to conduct your own research using the poetry of Australian diggers Diggers, members of a small English religio-economic movement (fl. 1649–50), so called because they attempted to dig (i.e., cultivate) the wastelands. They were an offshoot of the more important group of Puritan extremists known as the Levelers. as a primary source. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion