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And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda...

Photography Military posted on Dec 06, 2014
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Just lyrics, nothing else need be added.... Now when I was a young man and I carried my pack And I lived the free life of the Rover From the Murray's green basin to the dusty out back I waltzed my Matilda all over Then in 1915 my country said, 'Son It's time to stop rambling, there's work to be done' And they gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun And they sent me away to the war And the band played Waltzing Matilda As the ships pulled away from the quay And amid all the tears, flag waving and cheers We sailed off to Galipolli And how I remember that terrible day How our blood stained the sand and the water And how in that hell that they called Suvla Bay We were butchered like lambs to the slaughter Johnnie Turk was ready, oh, he primed himself well He rained us with bullets and he showered us with shell And in five minutes flat we were all blown to hell Nearly blew us all back home to Australia But the band played Waltzing Matilda As we stuck to bury our slain We burned ours and the Turks buried theirs And we started all over again Those who were living just tried to survive In a mad world of blood death and fire And for ten weary weeks, I kept myself alive While around me the corpses piled higher Then a big Turkish shell knocked me ares over head And when I awoke in my hospital bed And saw what it had done and I wished I was dead Never knew there were worse things than dying For no more I'll go Waltzing Matilda All 'round the green bush far and near For to hump tent and pegs a man needs both legs No more Waltzing Matilda for me They collected the crippled, the wounded, the maimed And they shipped us back home to Australia The armless, the legless, the blind, the insane Those proud wounded heroes of Suvla And as our ship pulled in to Circular Key And I looked at the place where my legs used to be I thanked Christ there was no one there waiting for me To grieve and to mourn and to pity And the band played Waltzing Matilda As they carried us down the gangway But nobody cheered, they just stood there and stared And turned all their faces away So now every April, I sit on my porch And I watch the parade pass before me And I see my old comrades, how proudly they march Renewing their dreams of past glory I see the old men all tired, stiff and sore The weary old heroes of a forgotten war And the young people ask, 'What are they marching for?' And I ask myself the same question And the band played Waltzing Matilda And the old men still answer the call But year after year, the numbers get fewer Some day none will march there at all Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda Who'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me? And their ghosts may be heard as they march by the billabong Who'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me? I believe this song by John Mcdermott (I have a version by The Skids), sums up this Momument perfectly.. Respect.. Rob

Comments (16)


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T.Rex

8:40AM | Sat, 06 December 2014

Thanks again, Rob. The text sure sums up the horrible botched tragedy of Galipolli and the dreadful human tragedies all wars create. Is the text set to music? As for the photo, a heart felt thanks for remembering, and for letting us others who can not visit the memorial get a good idea of how it looks. I'm glad they finally made a memorial to all Aussies who paid the ultimate price, like so many other allied servicemen and women the world over. Keep up the good work! :-)

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lunchlady

8:46AM | Sat, 06 December 2014

Perfect, Rob. HUGS!

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Richardphotos

9:11AM | Sat, 06 December 2014

outstanding memorial and capture. the song is one that I have heard many times

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neiwil

9:32AM | Sat, 06 December 2014

Stunning! I love the framing of the Autumn leaves, an unusual though striking monument..... ' Brallos Pass ' jumps out, a holding action by ANZAC's to cover the withdrawal from Greece, often called 'the modern Thermopylae'... so much sacrifice...well summed up by your text... 10/10++

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magnus073

10:00AM | Sat, 06 December 2014

Rob, you did a nice job on this powerful presentation.

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radioham

10:27AM | Sat, 06 December 2014

Love it.. Like all wars nobody wins at the end of the day The ones that go to fight Do not want too But go just the same I have the lines you put on asong about all the death that took place It is very sad

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taliesin86001

10:44AM | Sat, 06 December 2014

Fallen leaves...Fallen soldiers, very moving!

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jayfar

10:51AM | Sat, 06 December 2014

A great shot Rob and a whole lot of meaning.

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Faemike55

2:34PM | Sat, 06 December 2014

Very powerful and sad! as stated above, in war, no one wins!

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blinkings

5:02PM | Sat, 06 December 2014

Very meaningful Rob.

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Buffalo1

6:12PM | Sat, 06 December 2014

Good on ya, mate. The lads from down under always did their bit and more.

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flavia49

6:12PM | Sat, 06 December 2014

wonderful tribute

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jdstrider

6:30PM | Sat, 06 December 2014

Great photo and an even better sentiment. I say, No, Nay, Never... again!

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goodoleboy

10:55PM | Sat, 06 December 2014

Waltzing Matilda? Shades of the 1959 movie, On the Beach, with Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner and Fred Astaire. Blimey, I didn't realize the ditty was so lengthy. In any event, cool shot of the Australian Memorial Wall, mate.

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giulband

12:03AM | Sun, 07 December 2014

Great tribute !!

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RodS

2:13PM | Sun, 07 December 2014

Yep - it just gets you right in the heart..... A very beautiful photo, Rob, and a most moving tribute to those brave men who sacrificed so much.


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Photograph Details
F Numberf/4.4
MakePanasonic
ModelDMC-TZ40
Shutter Speed8/1000
ISO Speed100
Focal Length9

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