[Geek44]

Indeed Paul. When I look at these pics and others from the WW2 period, I often come back to the fact that the participants, dead or alive, were all too often, largely ignorant to the realities of the world. They had less opportunity to be informed or 'worldly' to put it another way. Of course we have the benefit of some pretty good hindsight but the attitude of young men (read boys) who volunteered for the Great War in this country is pertinent. Australia was so isolated...even until the mid 20th century. The military was a way to escape. A dull rural life or city job. A way to 'see the world' and experience 'adventure' the like of which they could only read or hear about. I wonder if the landings at Gallipoli shattered as many delusions as did Operation Torch for example. Another analogy. Written in the anthemic 'I Was Only Nineteen (A Walk In The Light Green) by Aussie band 'Redgum' about Vietnam;

'And the ANZAC legends didn't mention mud and blood and tears.
And the stories that my father told me never seemed quite real.'

When I was pretty young, I witnessed a young girl get totally smashed by a car. I was maybe ten years old. I never realised how freaked out I had been by the spectacle until I caught myself fretting every single time I saw somebody even look like they wanted to cross a road. That lasted for about five years. When I think, or try to imagine combat and war, I multiply what I saw that day by about one thousand and imagine it as being a relentless assault on my soul. These pictures are but the ghosts of the realities these people faced. There but for the grace of God go I. I'm not religious, but the saying expresses what I mean. Thanks for these pics Paul...they put my easy and comfortable life into the proper perspective.