Indeed there was fighting near us in ww1 Papua was a German colony taken by Australia. There was naval fighting as well. A German light crusier (Emden) was sunk off WA.

I don't even have to be an Aussie to understand Oz's strategiac importance during WWII...my daddy was in the Pacific theatre during that conflict, & while as far as I know never heard a shot fired in anger, he did bring back currency as souveniers from all around the Rim...I think I still have a sixpence with Geo VI on the face....

Yeah they teach it in the basic World History course here.

I seem to have gone off half-cocked. Sorry. Guess it's my irreverent streak, as well as my ignorance.

Milne, George
Number: WX11507
Rank: Private [Pte]
Unit: 2/43 INF BN
Service: Army
Conflict: 1939-1945
Date of Death: 02/10/1943
Place of Death: New Guinea
Cause of Death: Killed In Action
Memorial Panel: 62
Cemetery or Memorial Details:
Next Of Kin:
Notes:
Source: AWM147 Roll of Honour cards, 1939-1945 War, 2nd AIF (Australian Imperial Force) and CMF (Citizen Military Force)

A distant relation of mine, my grandfather was George Milne. This George was born in the linage of one of his uncles.

First World War

4 Aug 1914 - 11 Nov 1918
416,809 Personnel enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (including the Australian Flying Corps)
331,781 of these people served overseas. (RAN figures are not available)
The following publication is the source of the statistics quoted here.

Statistics of the Military Effort of the British Empire During the
Great War, 1914 - 1920, London, The War Office. ISBN 0 948130 14 8

Pages 759 - 770 refer to the Australian Involvement in this War.

EMBARKATION OF AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE FROM AUSTRALIA BY ARMS

Unit Total Strength
Infantry 210,981
Machine Guns 4,476
Tunnellers 3,970
Artillery 23,387
Australian Army Medical Corps 12,945
Australian Army Service Corps 9,735
Engineers 9,950
Light Horse 30,365
Veterinary 378
Australian Flying Corps 2,275
Wireless 434
Cyclists 570
Trench Mortars 1,218
Chaplains 386
Transport Officers 531
Australian Army Nursing Service 2,054
General Reinforcements 15,071
Miscellanious ARMS returned to Australia 2,555
-------
Total Forces Overseas all theatres of War 331,781

TOTAL CASUALTIES OF THE AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE

Killed in Action Died of Wounds
Officers 1,907 Officers 679
Other Ranks 37,832 Other Ranks 12,661

Died of Disease Died of Gas Poisoning
Officers 128 Officers 17
Other Ranks 3,791 Other Ranks 308

Died of Other Causes Total Deaths
Officers 95 Officers 2,826
Other Ranks 714 Other Ranks 55,306
---
Casualties that Survived
Wounded In Action Gassed
Officers 5,721 Officers 583
Other Ranks 129,963 Other Ranks 15,904

Prisoners Of War
Officers 170
Other Ranks 3,887
---
Total Battle Casualties including Deaths
Officers 9,300
Other Ranks 205,060
-------
Total All Ranks 214,360

Second World War

3 Sep 1939 - VE Day on 8 May 1945 and VJ Day on 15 Aug 1945

Number of People Enlisted or Engaged

Australian Military Forces (AMF) (AIF and Militia)
Men 691,400
Women 35,800

Royal Australian Navy (RAN)
Men 45,800
Women 3,100

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
Men 189,700
Women 27,200

TOTAL CASUALTIES OF THE AUSTRALIAN FORCES

Deaths
AMF 26,097
RAN 2,208
RAAF 11,061
Total 39,366

Wounded In Action
All Services 66,553

Prisoners Of War
By Germany 8,184 - 265 died while captive
By Japan 22,376 - 8,031 died while captive

Total Battle Casualties including Deaths
All Services 136,479

Of the 27,200 women in the RAAF in WW2, one was Betty Joy Read, my mother, who was a Wireless Telegraphist.

My father Kenneth Alexander Milne was a marine engineer in the merchant navy who was involved in coastal transport around the Australian coast.

He told me once that he had been in convoys where ships were sunk by either German or Japanese submarines and he had seen a torpedo miss the stern of his ship by about 30 feet.

He never spoke much of it.

When I go to vote, I think of those who gave their lives so that I could and cherish the privelige of being able do so. Those that do not vote through indifference have lost sight of all the lives that have been given so they have the the right to vote.

I think I join with most American's in saluting the brave soldiers of Australia who have given so much in the cause of freedom.

Now ... about the election ...

"this to shall pass." :D

I get the point.

I have always been well aware that Australians were involved in WW1 and 2. What I had disputed (notice the past tense) was that it had been necessary to defend democracy in Australia. I'm still not certain that we ever would have had we not felt some sort of obligation to the Brits, but then again I'll probably be wrong about that too. I have had relatives involved in both wars but I don't feel the details are relevant, suffice to say that none of it makes me feel much different regarding voting. I'll vote, but I'm not going to hum The Last Post with a tear in my eye while doing it. Sorry.

Belial,

If what you're offering is a half loaf, I'll take it - with thanks.

'Nuf said.

So far it has been all 'Lier, lier. Pants on fire.' What bliss.. not.

there is a joke about politicians

How can you tell when a politician is lying?

A: his/her mouth moves

:D bloody trouble is it is not too far wrong :(

Today the Govt has found cash to spend on health services. A few weeks ago there was no more that could be done for health. :hair:

Read this little gem in "Letters to the Editor" in the Hobart Mercury

Sir,

I wish people would stop making political jokes at election time.
Too many of them get elected.


That one made my day :)

Grumble,

Good one!