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Poets Corner

HMAS Junee
Poets Corner 

Rhyme of the Youthful Mariner

18/10/2020 Mel Austin 1852 Views 0 Comments By Mel Austin

A lighthearted version of National Service in the 50s published some years ago and which was originally written for a

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Poets Corner 

Shot in the Buttocks 

18/10/202018/10/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1926 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

Based on a true event I remember my dear old teacher, who often made the call “Heads  down and bums

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French children tend the graves of Australians killed in battle on the Western Front. AWM E05925
Poets Corner 

Crosses

16/10/202016/10/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2130 Views 0 Comments By Richard Davies

I stand on the hill, For tomorrow I would lead a parade at This site, and gaze upon the scene,

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Sapper Lewis Coulter sweeps for mines during the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment Commanding Officers' Challenge held at Robertson Barracks, Northern Territory. Photo by Private Rodrigo Villablanca.
Poets Corner 

The Sapper 

11/10/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3313 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

The Army has many trades and it seemed part of the plot, When I joined the Engineers, I sometimes scored the lot

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Centurion tanks from 1st Armoured Regiment, and armoured personnel carriers from B Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, move along the main road of Binh Ba village. Over three days, armour and infantry dislodged a strong North Vietnamese Army group that had entered the village, for the loss of one Australian killed in action. AWM BEL/69/0389/VN. Binh Ba.
Poets Corner 

1969 – In A Far Off Place

09/10/202009/10/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2008 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

The flag’s been raised, the anthem played, we’ve sung our last refrain And I have finally made it here, to stand before your name.

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Captain Bede Tongs (centre) with his wife and his brother Reginald after being presented his Military Medal by the Governor-General in Canberra, July 1947. Australian War Memorial photo 134820.
Poets Corner 

Old Digger

07/10/202007/10/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2559 Views 0 Comments By Richard Davies

We Lay to rest an old digger today, His finial battle over, the one that no one wins, He served his country in world war two.

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Graves of unknown soldiers who died during World War I but who's identity remains unknown are marked "Known Unto God".
Poets Corner 

I’ve killed 100 men and seen 1000 die

05/10/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2030 Views 0 Comments By Greeny

I’ve killed 100 men and seen 1000 die, I’ve forgotten who I was, But I now remember why – poem by Greeny 2020.

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A headstone of an unknown Australian soldier. Photo by Corporal Jake Sims.
Poets Corner 

The Casualties of War

03/10/202003/10/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1962 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

No one ever knew his pain, or heard his silent cry
But those who could have helped him, will ask the question – WHY?

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Poets Corner 

The Imposter

29/09/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3927 Views 1 Comment By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

In the art of living lies, this one knows his game – The military imposter, the one who knows no shame

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Corporal Mark Rudledge sleeps through mid-day heat during the survival phase of Exercise Kowari 2015, in the Daly River region, NT. Photo by Corporal Kyle Genner.
Poets Corner 

Hurry Up and Wait!

27/09/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2615 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

When I joined the Air Force I heard my DI state, “There’s a phrase you all will soon learn” – “Just hurry up and wait!”

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Poets Corner 

The Sergeant Major

24/09/202027/09/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3102 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

The Sergeant Major – a poem by Tomas (Paddy) Hamilton 

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Poets Corner 

“No Name”

13/01/202031/01/2021 Tim Jenkins 2658 Views 0 Comments By Tim Jenkins

The slight smell of mildew in the quarter master’s store, The smell of metal and gun oil in the armory,

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'T-wall' art in Tarin Kot, Afghanistan. Photo by Brian Hartigan
CONTACT BLOG SPOT Poets Corner 

A Legend would be Born

14/07/201931/01/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3508 Views 0 Comments By Jim Poland

We hit the beaches early, rowed in through the waves Looked for cover that wasn’t there Saw the wounded piling

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Members of Overwatch Battle Group–West get ready to participate in an ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Talil, Iraq, 2008. Photo by Brian Hartigan.
Poets Corner 

Soldier

06/07/201901/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2458 Views 0 Comments By Geoffrey Prior

You were young, aching to be old Put your boots on, to be told   Hang in soldier, God be

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Australia’s Federation Guardsman, Trooper David Nicolson, ANZAC Catafalque Party for the 100th Anniversary of Anzac Day service at Menin Gate, Belgium. Corporal Steve Duncan
Poets Corner 

Fête

27/02/201701/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3859 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, By Jeff Austin

The bugler could no longer belt out a harmonious tune The musicians long since replaced by a mechanical croon One

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Photo by Leading Aircraftman Aaron Curran
Poets Corner 

Ode to an Ordinary Soldier

13/02/201701/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3418 Views 0 Comments By Peter Rewko

. I was an Ordinary Soldier There are lots like me Now I am much older But I used to

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An Australian Army Unimog from 5th Brigade drives through flood waters during a mission to deliver sandbags to a NSW farmer. Photo by Corporal David Said.
Poets Corner 

The Flood Whisperer

13/02/201701/02/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3241 Views 0 Comments By Jeff Austin

It hadn’t rained for five years and more Then it rained non-stop with more in store The black-soil plains abutted

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CONTACT Air Land & Sea plus COMBAT Camera magazines were past publications of this business. Digital copies of both magazines can be viewed or downloaded via our Archives (see menus).

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