At the going down of the sun we will forget them

Few dare sing other verses of this imperialist battlecry since it puts the boot into the Scots, the French, the Presbyterians and of course, those Catholics; the British Throne's disdain for the latter even enshrined in its Constitution's holy conjugal, marital and progeny orders.

None of the above precluded our Prime Ministers from despatching Australians to war, or Catholic Diggers from dying for the British Monarch: nor any of the other millions of loyal subjects in the Commonwealth diaspora from laying down their lives or sustaining wounds.

It is outrageous colonial and political servility that even today, Australian Defence Forces swear an oath/affirmation to The Queen, and to her heirs and descendants - and not to Australia and its people.

Australia doesn't even get a mention - apart from the swearer identifying if he/she is from the Australian Navy, Army, or Air Force.

President of the Dayleford RSL, Keith Pyers speaks to us with the ease of a brotherly neighbour. The rain has blotted his notes, but not his heart.

He speaks frankly of war's horror, and the sacrifice paid in more than blood and reminds us of the women, the 'true sisters' who also fell.

Bugler Jack Walker's poignant Last Post inevitably is accompanied by our sniffles and tears.

But if we cannot weep together at such times, when can we ? And if we can't be angry at the waste of humanity, at such times, then our subservience to conflict over resolution will prohibit us further complaint.

For more than 30 years Jack has been the Bugle Boy for Company 'D' and paid homage to those in uniform who never returned to this dear village.

Some went and never came back. His own Aunt lost two sons within seven months, he later tells us.

Some went and returned but never really came back to us because they were forever damned and damaged, lacerated in body and mind; the walking wounded.

Couldn't speak about it. Wouldn't speak about it. Told they shouldn't speak about it and to get on with their lives even though they were dying inside. Sometimes through anger. Sometimes through pain. More often through both.