ANZAC Day is a sacred day in Australia – for some, it is considered to be one of the most sacred days.
The sacrifice made by those who served in wars are honoured and remembered throughout the country on April 25.
But, there were others.
The women left behind, the new bride, just married – soon widowed, the mother of the soldier sending her ‘baby boy’ off to war.
The women left behind to tend to the farm, the business, the children.
That awful feeling in the pit of their stomach that never went away until their boys returned – if they returned. Remember, that during the world wars there was no such thing as phoning home, texting or Facebook.
Those back home waited, sometimes in vain, for the postman to bring them news – or worse – the dreaded telegram.
In country areas, from where I came, the latest casualty lists were posted on a public notice board.
Imagine, if you will, passing Mrs Brown on her way to view the casualty list which you have just seen and know her son, Jimmy , is on today’s list, knowing how her apprehension is about to descend into grief.
Another aspect to consider, your man has been killed – the telegram said so – then you receive a letter from him, stating he was doing ok and all was well and family should not worry about him.
What does such a letter do to you – does it destroy you to think he was ok and now lying out there somewhere – or do you take comfort in the fact that he was coping and did not want you to worry.
There are those families, such as the local Binstead family who had no correspondence in years from their loved ones only to discover they had either died before the war’s end or in captivity.
Talking of men going to war, many women served as well. Let us honour the values for which they died and have served us well and remember them all every April 25.
