Posted on 04/08/2002 3:28:46 PM PDT by jla
AUSTRALIANS were united in outrage yesterday as they demanded the French Government respect the memory of our nation's war dead. Reacting to plans by France to build an international airport on the Somme battlefields – the site of thousands of World War I and II graves – the country threw its collective support behind an effort to stop the construction.
After revealing the names of 61 Australian soldiers whose remains could be exhumed under the airport proposal, The Daily Telegraph yesterday was flooded with messages of anger and grief.
Among them was the family of private Gerald Ryan, who died on the Western Front in August, 1918. His family's story was one of hundreds of letters, April 9:
Let Private Ryan and his mates rest in peace and e-mails were received by those expressing their indignation at the plan to meddle with the memory of our Diggers.
Private Ryan, 19, of Manly, is buried at the Bouchoir New British Cemetery – one of three cemeteries within the airport's construction zone containing the remains of Australians.
His nephew Gerald Ryan – named in honour of his uncle – expressed dismay at the plan.
"I don't see why he should be dug up, the poor old bloke," Mr Ryan said at his Cammeray home."
He was only 19 and it was all very sad. I think they should leave him where he is. It is a bit mad doing this to make some sort of airfield."
Mr Ryan's wife Valda said Private Ryan – a medical student at Sydney University – had the opportunity to pursue a medical career rather than enlist.
But the actions of another spurred him into joining the ranks of those on the Western Front. "The story was that someone gave him a white feather and that's the reason he enlisted," Mrs Ryan said.
"Apparently, being a medical student, he was exempt from joining the normal ranks. He had the option to join the medical corps but he wanted to join the rest of the soldiers."
Private Ryan – nicknamed "Shan" – was killed by a sniper's bullet during a battle at Hangard Wood on August 15, 1918.
"Ryan was wounded in the stomach at the very last moment and we tried to bring him in," Private A. D'Arcey recalled.
"He was in a trench on the right of me. The Germans would not let us touch him.
"We told the German Red Cross about him when we got back and they promised to get him in."
Elizabeth Warner of Umina Beach, whose great uncle, Private Dennis Patrick Morrissey, is buried at the Fouquescourt British Cemetery said: "I'm very concerned and disappointed that France could forget so soon the help given them by Commonwealth countries."
This plan, if carried thru, spits on the graves of France's liberators.
Come bury them guys in America where we at least strive to care for our veterans.
Is is so much for those people who fought and died, to expect anything less?
After all, the soldier hailed from a town named Manly.
Both countries understand valor and paying the ultimate sacrifice for what you believe in. We can't see how the French could be so cavalier about just deciding to pave over the graves of brave young men to build an airport. Maybe our anger is that we find it incredulous and can't see how the French don't.
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