Bless that's so adorable

Ate some Anzac biscuits today - good times. I spend a lot of time thinking about the sacrifices made by those who fight on our behalf on a day-to-day basis - always leaves me awed.

On a side note think the Aussies should think twice about their headgear - that hat on the guy in Cheetah's post somewhat lessens the gravity of a hugely honourable situation!

That and the fact he's had one too many pies..

Pie muncher

Lest we forget the enemy who have fallen,for they too were courageous and paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Indeed

If it was at shocko (closest event to Garden Island) i am pleased to report that my entire family, especially The1, were there to support him at the Dawn service, and the 11 o clock service.... And Mumbles marched with him...(well a bit further back with the scouts)

He did you proud which ever event he was at...

He's gorgeous.

I spoke to him after he'd sobered up, he was at the Port Kennedy Cenotaph

Pmsl... Call himself an australian Navy Boy if he can remember where he was???

A perfectly bashed slouch hat. I don't see the problem. That's what they are supposed to look like.....

I think abi31 is still in the UK, probably not used to Aussie army dress

The slouch hat goes back to the Boer War, when it proved to be cheap (compared to pith helmets and shakos) and practical in the strong African sun. The Australian army was founded around the time the war ended, and they just adopted it for the same reasons. They are made of rabbit fur, and you soak them in water and let them dry on a wooden "block" to "bash" them to shape.

They are always worn a tad small, and with a rakish tilt. These days they are worn with the brim down unless on a parade, when one side is clipped up - this was to stop it being knocked off by the bayonet of the old 303 rifle.

Lots of Diggers hate them and prefer the beret, as they require a lot of maintenance and can't be rolled up and put in a pocket.

Long long long ago, I joined to TA. My grandfathers old regiment. Same Company.

For many years afterwards I subscribed to the regimental magazine. I finally stopped in about 1991 - they used to mail it to to me in Australia.

There was an obituary section, and one day I was especially saddened to read about the death of a former member of the regiment.

RIP "private John Jones Lewis, who lost his memory as a result of a wound in 1918, and lived in Powick Hospital Worcester until his death on 3rd July 1990, aged 97."

He lived for over 70 years in hospital, with no memory.

I would guess the "wound" was shell shock. Powick hospital was a psychiatric asylum.

Poor bugger.

My maternal Grandfather had shell shock as a result of the batlle of the Somme... He was gassed too.... He wasnt allowed to stay in hospital in Blighty when he was over the worst of the gassing he was given the options of going back to the front or being shot for "lack of moral fibre"

I eat bran flakes for breakfast every morning in memory of him....

"The official rules for wearing medals allow only official awards to be worn. Unofficial purchased medals and foreign medals which do not have the Sovereign's permission to be worn are not allowed. Standard Bearers, Parade Marshals and other officials on Legion duty are bound by this ruling and unofficial medals must not be worn when on Legion duty.

The medals awarded to a deceased Service / ex-Service person may be worn on the right breast by a near relative (mother, father, sister, brother, wife, husband, daughter and son). Not more than one group should be worn by any individual."

One thing is certan, no action will be taken officially if anyone wears a relation's medals. In the Legion this practice is banned for Standard Bearers and parade officials and as stated above for other members."