And still they find the fallen: ("worst 24 hours in (Australia's) military history")

Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 6th November 2009 | Robert Hardman

[naturalman1975]

The graves lie ready. All have been dug to identical dimensions, all laid out in perfect rows so that the headstones will face south to catch the sun, while the visitor looks north across the battlefield.

.....

In a week when Britain has lost another lionheart of bomb disposal and six first-class troops in Afghanistan, tomorrow's Remembrance services up and down the land will have even greater poignancy.

With 93 deaths in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, 2009 is now the bloodiest year for the British Forces since the 1982 Falklands War - and we still have another nine weeks to go.

But if those grieving families can draw one tiny shred of comfort as the nation falls silent this weekend, it is the fact that their loved ones will never be forgotten.

.....

Because here, nearly a century after they made the ultimate sacrifice on the Western Front, 250 men have just been found in an unmarked mass grave. And they are now being honoured with the very same reverence and respect that they would receive had they died yesterday.

.....

The assault began at 6pm on July 19. It was all over the next day, with 5,533 Australian and 1,547 British soldiers killed, wounded or missing.

Not one inch of ground was gained. For the British, it was a skirmish compared to the carnage on the Somme. For the Australians, however, it was - and remains - the worst 24 hours in the country's military history.

The 1915 Battle of Gallipoli cost nearly 9,000 Australian lives and is forever etched in the national psyche. But that lasted several months: Fromelles was over in a night.

[naturalman1975]

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

[naturalman1975]

Fear not that you have died for naught
The torch you threw to us we caught.
And now our hands will hold it high
Its glorious light shall never die,
We’ll not break faith with you who lie
On many a field

[centurion316]

W.N.Hodgson (1893-1916)
“Before Action”

By all the glories of the day
And the cool evening’s benison,
By that last sunset touch that lay
Upon the hills where day was done,
By beauty lavisghly outpoured
And blessings carelessly received,
By all the days that I have lived
Make me a solider, Lord.
By all of man’s hopes and fears,
And all the wonders poets sing,
The laughter of unclouded years,
And every sad and lovely thing;
By the romantic ages stored
With high endeavor that was his,
By all his mad catastrophes
Make me a man, O Lord.
I, that on my familiar hill
Saw with uncomprehending eyes
A hundred of Thy sunsets spill
Their fresh and sanguine sacrifice,
Ere the sun swings his noonday sword
Must say goodbye to all of this;—
By all delights that I shall miss,
Help me to die, O Lord.

Lieutenant Hodgson was killed in action 1st July 1916

[AussieJoe]

For the Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flash of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

The Australian War Memorial in Canberra captivates that horrible day. It was an honor to see it.