Not just British
Whilst I agree with Duncan Wade’s comments about the waste of Australian lives in World War I and the scar it left on Australian society: I take issue with the idea that it was the fault of the British and they should apologise to us (Gaz 13/11).
All countries, including Australia, entered that war totally naïve about the realities that eventuated.
They had no idea about the impact of the new technologies on warfare. Even though there had been forewarnings everybody’s thinking was dominated by the short sharp examples of the previous 100 years. What was the initial slogan? “All over by Christmas”.
Duncan your proposition that the loss of Australian life was due to British incompetence just perpetuates the myth that Australians never made mistakes. It must be someone else’s fault.
Just as with the film Gallipoli, which insinuates that the disaster at the Nek was the fault of a British officer? Birdwood the commander of the ANZAC force was British but then so were a significant number of the soldiers, including Simpson.
Who forgot to synchronise their watches? The Australian officers. Who ordered the suicidal charges to continue? Lieutenant-Colonel John Antill because he disliked the Light Horse commander Noel Brazier.
Antill was a home grown Australian. The facts are that the Australian army also had to learn to be competent and weed out the less able commanders. If they had been the senior army commanders the casualty rates would have been the same.
Typical of us to idolise Simpson (Kirkpatrick was his real name) who actually joined the AIF to avoid arrest and to get home to the UK. Birdwood was a competent commander, not brilliant but he learned how to fight the new form of warfare. He actually opposed the Gallipoli landings in the form they took.
All the combatant nations struggled to adapt to the new form of warfare. All the tragedy outlined in Duncan Wade’s letter was common to them all.
A large bouquet to the organisers of the Farmers Drought Relief Auction held in Bellbird Park on November 11. Special thanks to the Drouin Rotary volunteers, Peter Williams Real Estate staff and auctioneers Doug Peachey, Neil Darby and Peter Williams. A fantastic effort to coordinate this event.
A massive brick to the low life people who stole a motor bike and backpack spray unit presented at the auction.
You are truly the lowest of low to pilfer from a volunteer fundraising club which donates it profits to worthy causes and people in need….in this case the Australkian farmers affected by drought. Disgraceful.
A brick to the person who stole my prescription sunglasses from our car, which was parked in our driveway. I hope you are able to use them because they are a very strong prescription suitable for my eyes only.
Also, you left behind your water bottle and if you wish to get it back, it is with the Warragul Police.
Bouquets to railway station staff at Drouin and Dandenong who were able to reunite me with my walking stick/cane recently. I continued my journey with more confidence.