Those who fought for our country, for our way of life deserve
to be remembered. Regardless of how their ideals may have been betrayed by
politicians. Support our veterans and service men and women. Not war. People get
hurt in war.
ANZAC, Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, did not exist
before Gallipoli. Gallipoli, planed and miss executed by Churchill. The way the
men fought and died, for a lost cause, created the ANZAC
legend.
Australians have volunteered and fought in many wars. As well as
peace keeping and peace making operations.
Maori Wars 1860 -
1866 ( for England )
20 died
Sudan 1885 ( for the Empire
)
6 died
The Third Anglo-Burmese War 1885 - 1886 ( for the
Empire )
1 served
Chitral 1895 ( for the Empire )
1
served
Boer War 1899 - 1902 ( for the Empire )
16,175
served
606 died
Boxer Rebellion 1900 - 1901 ( for the
Empire )
556 served
6 died
WWI 1914 - 1918 ( for the
Empire )
331,781 served
61,919 died
North Russia Relief
Force 1919 ( for the Empire )
120 served
Native uprising in
the British Solomon Islands 1927 ( for the Empire )
WWII
1939 - 1945 ( for the Empire )
557,799 served
39,366 died
Project
Kingfisher a 1944 - 45 plan for Australian paratroops to rescue some 1,800
Australian prisoners of war held in Sandakan. It was planed and fully resourced
by Australia except for the troop carrying aircraft. MacArthur refused to
release the aircraft, despite the fact that aircraft were available and idle.
Only one of the 1,800 or so Australian prisoners of war survived and returned
home.
Korea 1950 - 1953 ( for the UN )
18,059 served
339
died
The first war that the Australian Regular Army fought
in.
Operation Commando, the battle of Maryang San. 3 RAR dislodged an
enemy, twice it's strength, from entrenched defensive positions, seized that
ground and held it. 39 decorations were awarded for actions during this
battle.
Malayan Emergency 1950 - 1960 ( for the Empire )
36
died
Vietnam 1962 - 1973 ( US request )
50,190
served
520 died
Long Tan. 11 platoon D company 6 RAR was ambushed by a
company. It escalated and A, D and part of B coys 6 RAR forced the Viet Cong
275th Main Force Regiment plus and the D445 Local Force battalion to retreat.
Some 230 members of 6 RAR defeated some 2,500 of the enemy, yes about 10:1. The
Vietnamese left behind 245 bodies, total Australian casualties 18 dead and 24
wounded.
Indonesian Confrontation 1963 - 1966 ( for the Empire
)
16 died
The Gulf 1990 - 1991 ( US led )
959
served
RAN ships are still deployed in the Gulf.
1991
One SASR squadron ( 110 men ) joined some NZ SAS to form the ANZAC SAS Squadron
in Kuwait.
Somalia 1992-1994 ( for the UN )
937 served
1
died
1998 110 members of the SASR and the NZ SAS were again
deployed to the Gulf - ( Operation Desert Fox )
( ANZAC Special Operations
Force detachment on Operation Pollard in Kuwait )
East Timor
1999 - ( Operation Citadel )( Australian initiative )
approximately 440
served at a time.
Aidabasalala. A 6 man SASR patrol was ambushed by more
than 20 militiamen. The militia being beaten off with 3 killed and 3 wounded. No
Australian casualties.
Afghanistan " The war against terror "
2001 - ( US led )
The SASR has been praised for the success of it's
reconnaissances patrols.
US Major General Frank Hagenback, Commander of
Coalition Task Force Mountain stated "You won't find a more professional group
than the Australians that have served here with us"
Our contribution
apparently ended in 2003. However, I believe we are still supporting operations
there under Operation Slipper.
The US invaded Afghanistan to
capture bin Laden, who they accuse of planning the ' September 11 ' hijackings.
That's right, they invaded a whole country to capture one man after the Taliban
refused or were unable to hand him over. But have so far been unsuccessful.
And the US has been critical of Israel's battle against terrorists.
An Australian is still being held, in conditions similar to a 1920s zoo,
by the US, it is well over three years now. The US claim the prisoners are
probably terrorists and therefore not prisoners of war. However under the Geneva
Convention those held who are not considered prisoners of war must be brought
before a formal hearing to determine their status, this did not happen until
recently. And the tribunals have been suspended, pending US court cases
regarding the prisoners' legal status and the fairness of the these
tribunals.
Judges around the world have criticized the US for holding
these people prisoners. Yet our government is doing nothing about it!
"
children are still being interrogated and will continue to be held at
Guantanamo. About 660 prisoners are in the camp. They have not been tried or
convicted of any offence but are being held as part of what the US calls its war
on terror. http://www.abc.net.au/news/justin/nat/newsnat-22apr2003-35.htm
Prisoners
that have been released have accused the US of torturing them. These people were
held for at least two years, then released without charge. Why were they held in
the first place? If they tortured those they have admitted they can't charge,
what are they doing to the others they still may charge?
The US may be an
ally, but it is not behaving like a friend!
Is it right to fight for
' justice ' when, in doing so, you don't adhere to the principles you are
fighting for?
Invasion and occupation of Iraq 2003 (
Operation Bastille & Operation Catalyst )( US bullied )
some
2,600+
Howard's argument for our involvement in this war is summarized
thus:
1. Most terrorist organizations want weapons of mass
destruction.
2. Iraq has weapons of mass destruction.
Therefore
Iraq may supply weapons of mass destruction to terrorists in the
future.
Therefore they must be disarmed. But they are not fully
cooperating.
Therefore we must invade them.
Sorry, but this logic
too tenuous. It's like revoking your driving licence now, because, even though
you have never done it before, next year you might drive after
drinking.
And weapons of mass destruction have not been found in Iraq.
Despite the fact that Colin Powell pointed to air photographs of Iraq and said
there were weapons of mass destruction in those specific places. At last the US
has now admitted that there weren't any. And the reason for the invasion has
been changed, it was now because of the way Sadam treated his people.
The
US and UK do have weapons of mass destruction! Seems like a double standard to
me.
Another 450 Australians are deploying to Iraq to replace 1,400 troops
from the Netherlands. Before our election Howard said there would be no
significant increase in our numbers there, this is an approximate 50% increase.
Howard does admit that it is a broken election promise ( something like "there
will never, ever be a GST" ). He said it was a hard decision, and I'm sure it
was.
In an interview on this topic he stated that someone had to replace
the troops leaving the area and he did not make the decision to send our troops
until after he was asked by Japan and Britain. He also stated that the
deployment is in Britain area of responsibility, but they can't deploy more
troops because there has to be a British election this year. That's right our
troops are going so the British labour government has a better chance of being
reelected! And this after he was reelected after promising no significant
increase in the number of our troops in Iraq!
As well as the above
operations Australian service personnel are constantly involved in peace
keeping / peace making operations and always on exchange with the forces of
other nations, eg UK, US & NZ. Where they may become involved in operations
of their host country eg KFOR.
On the 1st of march 2004 over 1300
Australian soldiers were serving on peacekeeping, peace monitoring, military
assistance and other operations around the world.
Our service personnel
past and present serve us by protecting us and our country. They also carry out
tasks allocated the them by our government. Even though you may not agree with
some of the tasks they carryout, they deserve your respect. Especially those who
have served in time of war.
http://www.diggerhistory.info/
http://www.defence.gov.au/army/ahu/index.htm
http://www.defence.gov.au/raaf/
http://www.defence.gov.au/
http://www.anzacsite.gov.au/