“IN some way the poppies are looking a little drenched, with tears of nature and rain, tears in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and served their country never to return.”
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They were the words of guest speaker former deputy prime minister and ex-serviceman Tim Fischer, who spoke to a service of about 1000 people in Corowa yesterday.
Mr Fischer reflected on the story of General Sir John Monash who landed at Anzac Cove 100 years ago.
The tears and memories he spoke of rang true as residents emerged with stories closer to home, of their own family members who served during WWI.
Mr Fischer told of Gen Monash’s tactics at the battle of Hamel where he planned a holistic approach of attack.
Monash had written in his diary that if all went well, the fighting should last 90 minutes rather than nine weeks — it lasted 93 minutes.
“The next day after the battle an American said to a German prisoner of war ‘Do you guys still think you’re winning the war? and the German said ‘Yes, God is with us’,” Mr Fischer told the crowd.
“The American replied ‘that’s nothing - the Australians are with us’.”
The crowd laughed and a short while later they were applauding all the men and women who have served, and continue to serve Australia.
The story of Private Edward Alfred Anstee from Corowa was also shared, he was aboard the same boat Monash went to war on, the Ulysses.
He endured shrapnel wounds which became gangrenous and later died in the poor conditions on the ship on the way back.
Pte Anstee’s grandson Peter was at the services with several other family members.
“We shed a few tears here this morning, it was a lovely service and our grandfather was mentioned quite significantly in that service which we are very grateful for,” Mr Anstee said.
“It is very important and our children have become more interested so hopefully his story will continue and live on.”
While Pte Anstee’s name appears on the memorial at Corowa, one woman was keen to share the story of a nurse whose name was never recorded.
Beverly Walker told the service her aunt Eva Robinson arrived in Egypt in May 1915 aged 39 and worked as a nurse during the war.
Mrs Walker said she found out about her aunt's experiences from old diaries and wanted her story of “gender” to be known.
“It’s been 100 years since she got on that ship,” Mrs Walker said.
“I thought to myself 'if I don’t tell her story now, I’ll never do it'.”
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