Pat Booth's Editorial was too good not to share -- hope you all don't mind. By way of terminology: "VC" means "Victoria Cross" -- the Commonwealth's highest honor. Even the King or Queen will salute a VC wearer. It is approximately equivalent to the Medal of Honor, yet with a mystique all of its own.
The Commonwealth's greatest warrior ever, Charles Upham VC and Bar, was a New Zealander from Christchurch. He was awarded this coveted medal not once but TWICE: once for Valor in Crete, and again for Valor in the African Desert.
Last nite at the Henderson RSA it was my privilege to read The Ode: an observance we hold every nite every day of the week at six o'clock PM precisely. Lites are dimmed, all present stop what they are doing (having a beer, chatting, playing snooker, or playing the Pokies) stand at ease and for a brief moment we Remember. These are the words:
THE ODE
"They shall not grow old
Even as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years Contemn.
At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning,
We will remember them."
(Laurence Binyon, 1914, excerpt from "For the Fallen")
Ake Ake, Kia Kaha e!
*DieHard the Hunter*
Great article, Die Hard! Thanks for posting it.
Incredibly brave and valiant men, all.
“The Commonwealth’s greatest warrior ever, Charles Upham VC and Bar, was a New Zealander from Christchurch. He was awarded this coveted medal not once but TWICE: once for Valor in Crete, and again for Valor in the African Desert.”
Hmmmmmmmmm
I thought Upham was at Gallipoli?
Who was the New Zealander who saved several other guys, swimming out of the area with them till they were safe?
My mother lost 3 uncles at Gallipoli....the Harris boys...
And a brother in Italy during WWII...
“Contemn” should be condemn...
Yes I know picky picky...