ANZAC Day 2008
ANZAC Day has always been meaningful to me for a variety of reasons. I won’t bore you with the details, suffice to say that family members have served our country in both World Wars. As I do every ANZAC day, I watch the services and marches on tv whilst I browse various websites for information on different battles. I dig out my great-grandfather’s war diary and read it with awe. Today, I’m going to share some information I have discovered.
My Great-Grandfather, Herbert Simington, enlisted with the Army on the 29th April, 1916. On 17th October that year, he boarded the HMT Borda and embarked on a journey I can’t even begin to imagine.
He journeyed to France, where he joined his artillery unit as a Gunner. He spent the following 9 months fighting on the Western Front.
He was one of the lucky ones. He survived, and returned to Australia. Some 20 years later, he farewelled his sons, including my Grandfather, William Douglas Simington, as they departed for service in World War II.
Pa enlisted on 25th June, 1940, and spent the next 5 years serving our country. Unfortunately, I don’t know many details. I know he trained in Egypt. I know he was a driver. I believe he served in New Guinea. He was not a Prisoner of War, although his brother-in-law was imprisoned at Changi. For some reason, he was always reluctant to discuss this period. Can’t imagine why!
Anyway, one of these days I’ll get around to doing some more thorough research.
Lest we forget.
yes - Lest we forget - great post Tracey
Comment by Trish — April 25, 2008 @ 5:51 pm
Lest we forget..
My Paternal great grandfather was at Gallipoli and then fought in france for the remainder of WW1 his brother was killed in france..I am going to write about it tomorrow or maybe later on tonight.. My nan’s brothers were rats of tobruk. another uncle was a POW and survived the Burma railway..the last post makes me cry every single time i hear it.. great photo of your grandfather.. xxx kim
Comment by frogpondsrock — April 25, 2008 @ 5:56 pm
Great post!!! I’ve included it in my Anzac Day wrap up on Lightening’s Blogworld (www.lighteningsblogworld.com)
Comment by Lightening — April 25, 2008 @ 8:56 pm
Both of my grandfathers served and I know absolutely nothing about it. They want it that way and I have to respect that.
Great post. We will remember them.
Comment by Kelley — April 26, 2008 @ 1:23 pm
Brilliant post! Beautifully written. Well done, Tracey.
Comment by anja — April 26, 2008 @ 2:31 pm