These days whenever I hear news that as a result of an incident, entire schools receive 'trauma counselling', I am reminded that our WW1 Diggers received none at all after trauma worse than anything we can imagine. My grandfather was on the year-long battles for The Hindeburg Line in WW1, returned here to work hard and produce a large honest family. These Grandfathers and their lifestyles, need saluting today.
I guess it would depend where they were fighting. Maybe this?
Given what it took, it's hardly a cause for celebration, but it was still the end of the war. There were several formal ceremonies of Japanese surrender, apparently, including one in East Timor that my dad was part of, as an 18-year-old sailor.
I think for me it's always an issue of separating out the Howardian rah-rah effect from the remembrance of the actual people whose whole lives, if they were lucky enough not to lose them, were directed and defined by the 'only nineteen' (as my Grandfather Kay was) experience, in whatever war.
Yep, good choice Pav - and good link too. One of them was in Bouganville.
If you're Dad is still around (and I hope he is) please ask him about the ET Japanese surrender.
Because in the end, the US pressured the AU and GB forces to allow the Portuguese authorities to accept the Japanese surrender in Dili. The Portuguese were threatening to withdraw use of the Azores port - so the Yanks came down on their side. Did he witness the Portuguese governor take it, or another ceremony?
Still Life With Cat is an all-purpose blog containing reflections on whatever is going on in the realms of literature, politics, media, music, dinner, gardening etc. Its original incarnation is Pavlov's Cat (2005-2008).
Read, Think, Write is about all things books and writing, and incorporates Australian Literature Diary (2005-2010) and Ask the Brontë Sisters (May-July 2007).
Blogs are by Kerryn Goldsworthy, a writer, critic and editor who lives and works in Adelaide, South Australia.
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5 comments:
These days whenever I hear news that as a result of an incident, entire schools receive 'trauma counselling', I am reminded that our WW1 Diggers received none at all after trauma worse than anything we can imagine.
My grandfather was on the year-long battles for The Hindeburg Line in WW1, returned here to work hard and produce a large honest family.
These Grandfathers and their lifestyles, need saluting today.
You have made a beautiful memorial for today. Thank you.
Great idea for today, Pav. Lest we forget.
But a question: I was looking at my granfathers WW2 enlistemtns pics. What day do I put them up?
Gets back to recent debates about Gallipoli and the nation, and Howard leaving WW2 aside for 10 years.
Not to detract from your memories here, of course!
I guess it would depend where they were fighting. Maybe this?
Given what it took, it's hardly a cause for celebration, but it was still the end of the war. There were several formal ceremonies of Japanese surrender, apparently, including one in East Timor that my dad was part of, as an 18-year-old sailor.
I think for me it's always an issue of separating out the Howardian rah-rah effect from the remembrance of the actual people whose whole lives, if they were lucky enough not to lose them, were directed and defined by the 'only nineteen' (as my Grandfather Kay was) experience, in whatever war.
Yep, good choice Pav - and good link too. One of them was in Bouganville.
If you're Dad is still around (and I hope he is) please ask him about the ET Japanese surrender.
Because in the end, the US pressured the AU and GB forces to allow the Portuguese authorities to accept the Japanese surrender in Dili. The Portuguese were threatening to withdraw use of the Azores port - so the Yanks
came down on their side. Did he witness the Portuguese governor take it, or another ceremony?
Nerdily interested,
LE
PS agree with your other comments
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