Mont St Quentin
30th-31st Aug. 1918] THE CLIMAX
The troops, who had now been fighting for twelve hours and moving for the greater part of two days and nights, were, this time, given an issue of rum before action - the usual Australian practice was to issue it after action. Their number was few, most Australian battalions at this time having only 300 men available for action. The attack was to be made by two battalions (17th and 20th) going straight for the hill and ignoring on their right the woods and strong fortress of Peronne (the two other battalions following in close support and reserve). The troops being so few, the company leaders decided that the best chance lay in making a noise as they attacked. “yelling”, as Captain E. T. Manefield urged, “like a lot of bushrangers”.
At 5 a.m. on August 31st, as the grey sky began to show behind the Mount, which was dimly visible across a gentle dip, the Australian field artillery laid its fire on certain targets ahead, in the first place along 2500 yards of one of the old trench-lines which, with their belts of rusty wire, seamed the depression and the upslope beyond. The cheering platoons at once ran into crowds of Germans, who seemed bewildered and quickly surrendered - indeed in many cases they were simply pushed to the rear with their hands up, leaving their machine-guns lying on the ground. They were from one of the best divisions of the German Army, the 2nd Guard, which had just been sent up to relieve the overstrained garrison. “It all happened like lightning,” says the history of the Guard Alexander Regiment, “and before we had fired a shot we were taken unawares.”
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Ted Kennedy Meets Mary Jo Kopechne
US Senator Edward Kennedy has died aged 77 after losing his battle with cancer. Which is 40 years, 1 months, 6 days after Mary Jo Kopechne who was 28 years, 11 months, 22 days ago when Mary Jo Kopechne (July 26, 1940 – July 18, 1969) was an American teacher, secretary and political campaign specialist who died in a car accident.
The "Chappaquiddick incident" refers to circumstances surrounding the death of Mary Jo Kopechne, a former campaign worker.
Mary Jo Kopechne died 40 years, 1 months, 6 days ago today. Just past midnight on Saturday, July 19 , 1969, Senator Ted Kennedy drove his black Oldsmobile sedan off a bridge.
Kennedy's family announced his death in a brief statement released early on Wednesday.
The "Chappaquiddick incident" refers to circumstances surrounding the death of Mary Jo Kopechne, a former campaign worker.
Mary Jo Kopechne died 40 years, 1 months, 6 days ago today. Just past midnight on Saturday, July 19 , 1969, Senator Ted Kennedy drove his black Oldsmobile sedan off a bridge.
Kennedy's family announced his death in a brief statement released early on Wednesday.
Bradfield PM
Electoral Division of Bradfield
First Proclaimed/Election: 1949
Demographic Rating: Inner Metropolitan
Members:
Nelson, B (LP) 1996-
Connolly, D M (LP) 1974-1996
Turner, H B (LP) 1952-1974
Hughes, W M (LP) 1949-1952
First Proclaimed/Election: 1949
Demographic Rating: Inner Metropolitan
Members:
Nelson, B (LP) 1996-
Connolly, D M (LP) 1974-1996
Turner, H B (LP) 1952-1974
Hughes, W M (LP) 1949-1952
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Russia Germany Afghanistan
23 Aug 1939 Russo-German pact of non-aggression signed
Chapter 4 – Australia Enters the War, September 1939–April 1940
168
"The Middle East and India are regarded as possible danger areas if Russian aggression and propaganda developed. It is essential to build up a reserve in the Middle East to meet the possible contingencies".
172
Russia might also stir up trouble and perhaps advance into Iraq, Iran or Afghanistan.
Appendix 3 – The Banning of the Communist Party
1
The Communist Party was a minority group which itself claimed only 5,000 members in 1940, but, for a time, working on the idealism, confusion, sectional selfishness and lethargy of far greater numbers, it had a marked effect both on the shaping of the attitude of Australians to the war and in impeding effective Australian participation in the war.
The Australian Communist Party had been formed originally in October 1920 from among those little rebel groups of Australian socialists who, since the eighteen-nineties, had always been found on the edges of the Labour Party, taking their socialist doctrine more seriously than their politics; and it developed through schisms and much internal bickering into a militant body preaching the class struggle, ridiculing the "reformism " of official Labour and looking towards the abolition of "capitalism" by force.
585
When the Soviet Union signed the non-aggression pact with Germany on 23rd August 1939, the party accepted the view that the "ruling circles of Britain and France" had been trying to "bring Germany and the Soviet Union into a collision", and the Soviet Union, by concluding the nonaggression pact with Germany, had "frustrated the insidious plans of the provokers of war" and ensured peace between the two largest States of Europe. Henceforward, Britain and France were regarded as war-makers and the German-Soviet treaty as a "barrier against the extension of the imperialist war". When war broke out between Germany and the Western Powers it was seen as "a struggle between two groups of imperialists for the repartition of the world". But at this point a little confusion crept into the argument. On the one hand it was said to be the duty of the workers to obstruct the waging of war by Britain. Labour Party leaders who supported the national war effort were draped with adjectives like "filthy" and "criminal". Yet, on the other hand the war was seen as not wholly deplorable. The capitalist world was "blowing itself to bits “while the Soviet Union, as the result of the pact—"one of the most brilliant acts of policy in working-class history"—was consolidating its economic, political and military might. The antagonisms of the imperialist states had been used to safeguard the Soviet Union, the base of world socialism, from capitalist attack.
Then came the partition of Poland between Germany and the Soviet Union, the Soviet invasion of Finland, and the Soviet treaties with Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. The first was seen as the liberation of the oppressed minorities from a wicked Poland. The second was necessary to remove dangerous anti-Soviet bases of international capitalism and imperialism.
The third was a measure to protect the independence of small States.
Appendix 3 – The Banning of the Communist Party
587
At the outset of the war the attitude of the Australian Government to Communist activities was tender, considering all the circumstances. The information before the Government during the early months of the war pointed to the possibility of war with Russia, either as the result of the German-Soviet pact or of an independent attack by Russia on the Middle East, South-Eastern Europe, or Afghanistan. Russian invasion of Finland, coupled with speculation about Germany’s interest in Scandinavia, raise d a further risk that the Allies and the Soviet Union might become involved in hostilities against each other. Until Hitler struck in the East in 1941, there was never any certainty as to which side would gain Soviet aid. The Communist propagandists themselves had in mind the possibility that Great Britain and the Dominions might fight the Soviet Union.
Chapter 4 – Australia Enters the War, September 1939–April 1940
168
"The Middle East and India are regarded as possible danger areas if Russian aggression and propaganda developed. It is essential to build up a reserve in the Middle East to meet the possible contingencies".
172
Russia might also stir up trouble and perhaps advance into Iraq, Iran or Afghanistan.
Appendix 3 – The Banning of the Communist Party
1
The Communist Party was a minority group which itself claimed only 5,000 members in 1940, but, for a time, working on the idealism, confusion, sectional selfishness and lethargy of far greater numbers, it had a marked effect both on the shaping of the attitude of Australians to the war and in impeding effective Australian participation in the war.
The Australian Communist Party had been formed originally in October 1920 from among those little rebel groups of Australian socialists who, since the eighteen-nineties, had always been found on the edges of the Labour Party, taking their socialist doctrine more seriously than their politics; and it developed through schisms and much internal bickering into a militant body preaching the class struggle, ridiculing the "reformism " of official Labour and looking towards the abolition of "capitalism" by force.
585
When the Soviet Union signed the non-aggression pact with Germany on 23rd August 1939, the party accepted the view that the "ruling circles of Britain and France" had been trying to "bring Germany and the Soviet Union into a collision", and the Soviet Union, by concluding the nonaggression pact with Germany, had "frustrated the insidious plans of the provokers of war" and ensured peace between the two largest States of Europe. Henceforward, Britain and France were regarded as war-makers and the German-Soviet treaty as a "barrier against the extension of the imperialist war". When war broke out between Germany and the Western Powers it was seen as "a struggle between two groups of imperialists for the repartition of the world". But at this point a little confusion crept into the argument. On the one hand it was said to be the duty of the workers to obstruct the waging of war by Britain. Labour Party leaders who supported the national war effort were draped with adjectives like "filthy" and "criminal". Yet, on the other hand the war was seen as not wholly deplorable. The capitalist world was "blowing itself to bits “while the Soviet Union, as the result of the pact—"one of the most brilliant acts of policy in working-class history"—was consolidating its economic, political and military might. The antagonisms of the imperialist states had been used to safeguard the Soviet Union, the base of world socialism, from capitalist attack.
Then came the partition of Poland between Germany and the Soviet Union, the Soviet invasion of Finland, and the Soviet treaties with Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. The first was seen as the liberation of the oppressed minorities from a wicked Poland. The second was necessary to remove dangerous anti-Soviet bases of international capitalism and imperialism.
The third was a measure to protect the independence of small States.
Appendix 3 – The Banning of the Communist Party
587
At the outset of the war the attitude of the Australian Government to Communist activities was tender, considering all the circumstances. The information before the Government during the early months of the war pointed to the possibility of war with Russia, either as the result of the German-Soviet pact or of an independent attack by Russia on the Middle East, South-Eastern Europe, or Afghanistan. Russian invasion of Finland, coupled with speculation about Germany’s interest in Scandinavia, raise d a further risk that the Allies and the Soviet Union might become involved in hostilities against each other. Until Hitler struck in the East in 1941, there was never any certainty as to which side would gain Soviet aid. The Communist propagandists themselves had in mind the possibility that Great Britain and the Dominions might fight the Soviet Union.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Japan man 'e cry enough, pack oop and go HTM
Chapter 10 – Operations on New Britain
On 15th August when the news arrived that the war was over it was received quietly. Native workers and troops were assembled and told the news — "Japan man 'e cry enough" — and native runners were sent into the hills to spread the news among the villages.
Next day Gracie Fields and a party of other entertainers arrived at Jacquinot Bay from Bougainville and in the evening performed before 10,000 troops.
Highlight of the night . . . was a half hour's non-stop entertainment by "Gracie " who at the conclusion of the concert said : "I hope it won't be long before you all pack oop and go H.T.M.—home to Moom." Ten thousand troops had exactly identical hopes and the thunderous cheering showed this in no uncertain manner.
On 15th August when the news arrived that the war was over it was received quietly. Native workers and troops were assembled and told the news — "Japan man 'e cry enough" — and native runners were sent into the hills to spread the news among the villages.
Next day Gracie Fields and a party of other entertainers arrived at Jacquinot Bay from Bougainville and in the evening performed before 10,000 troops.
Highlight of the night . . . was a half hour's non-stop entertainment by "Gracie " who at the conclusion of the concert said : "I hope it won't be long before you all pack oop and go H.T.M.—home to Moom." Ten thousand troops had exactly identical hopes and the thunderous cheering showed this in no uncertain manner.
hushed thousands of men
Chapter 9 – The Floods and the Cease Fire
By the first week in August the rains in southern Bougainville had put a stop to large-scale operations for over a month. News of the dropping of an atomic bomb in Japan convinced the troops that the end of the war was near. On the 9th came news of the dropping of a second atomic bomb and the invasion of Manchuria by the Russians. On the 11th the forward battalions were ordered to withdraw all long-range and fighting patrols forthwith, but to remain on the alert. On the 16th they learnt that fighting was to have ceased the previous day. But when would all the isolated parties of Japanese know what had happened? An Australia n patrol searching for the body of a man killed on patrol some days before met a group of Japanese who seemed to have learnt the news: "Neither party knew whether to advance or make off. After observing one another our party returned to company area." 7
By the first week in August the rains in southern Bougainville had put a stop to large-scale operations for over a month. News of the dropping of an atomic bomb in Japan convinced the troops that the end of the war was near. On the 9th came news of the dropping of a second atomic bomb and the invasion of Manchuria by the Russians. On the 11th the forward battalions were ordered to withdraw all long-range and fighting patrols forthwith, but to remain on the alert. On the 16th they learnt that fighting was to have ceased the previous day. But when would all the isolated parties of Japanese know what had happened? An Australia n patrol searching for the body of a man killed on patrol some days before met a group of Japanese who seemed to have learnt the news: "Neither party knew whether to advance or make off. After observing one another our party returned to company area." 7
7 The troops at Torokina knew of the surrender on the 15th. That day Gracie Fields, the English singer, had arrived at Torokina. In her autobiography Sing As We Go (1960), pp. 151-2, she writes:
The General who had showed me the jungle clearing where I was to sing that evening cam e up white-faced with a sort of dazed excitement. "
'I want you to come with me now,' he said. It was midday. "He took me to the huge clearing. Already it was packed with troops. With all the top brass I stood facing them. The boys must have wondered about the small odd-looking creature I looked, all muffled up in creased khaki.
"The General stepped forward.
"`Men, at last I can tell you the only thing you want to know. The Japs have surrendered.' In the second's silence of wonderment and before the cheering could start, he held up his hand. `I have England's Gracie Fields here. I am going to ask her to sing the Lord's Prayer.'
"He led me to a small wooden box. I got on to it. There was a movement as of a great sea — every man had taken off his cap. "The matted green of the tall dark jungle surrounded us, but above our clearing the noon sun seared down from the brilliant sky on to...bare bowed heads.
"I started to sing. `Our Father which art in Heaven. . ‘Because of my cold I had to sing in a low key, but there was no sound except my voice. The hushed thousands of men in front of me seemed even to have stopped breathing. Each note and word of the prayer carried across the utter stillness of the rows of bent heads till it was lost in the jungle behind them.
"It was the most privileged and cherished moment of my life.
"I treasure the letters from the many soldiers who have written to me since, telling me it was their most wonderful moment too.”
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
H.M.A.S. Sydney stories, either malicious or merely mischievous
Chapter 12 – Australia Station 1941
Official Histories - Second World War
Volume I - Royal Australian Navy, 1939-1942 (1st edition, 1957) G Hermon Gill
Official Histories - Second World War
Volume I - Royal Australian Navy, 1939-1942 (1st edition, 1957) G Hermon Gill
For many months thereafter stories, either malicious or merely mischievous, of news received from survivors of Sydney in Japan, continued to emerge and circulate, causing pain and distress in a number of Australian homes.
Why Burnett did not use his aircraft, did not keep his distance and use his superior speed and armament, did not confirm his suspicions by asking Navy Office by wireless if Straat Malakka was in the area, are questions that can never be answered.
If, as is possible, Burnett's action in closing Kormoran was influenced by the implied criticism of Farncomb's standing off from Ketty Brovig and Coburg, one can but conjecture what he would have done had he known of Devonshire's experience. On the other hand, both Farncomb and Devonshire's captain had more positive reason for suspicion in their encounters than had Burnett in his; and it may well be that, influenced by the near approach of darkness, he was moved to determine the question quickly; and thus was swayed to over confidence; first in the genuineness of Straat Malakka; second in Sydney's ability, with all armament bearing and manned, to overwhelm before the trap, if such existed, were sprung. Yet to act as Burnett did was to court disaster should a trap exist, disaster at the worst total, as it was; at the best professional for Burnett; for even had Sydney triumphed in an action it is improbable that it would have been without damage and casualties, and Burnett would have been unable to explain the risks he ran. In such an encounter, with the raider an apparently innocent merchant vessel, the other an undisguised warship known to the raider as an enemy, the element of surprise must have remained with Detmers until Burnett's suspicions deepened into absolute certainty. In the circumstances Burnett created, he could not have reached such certainty until Detmers abandoned all disguise and struck - a matter of almost simultaneous decision by him and action by his guns, giving him the tremendous advantage of that vital second or two in the first blow at such close quarters. In the event, Sydney must have been crippled from the outset by those devastating initial salvos at point blank range, the torpedo hit, and the fire from her aircraft's petrol. That she managed to inflict fatal wounds on her adversary after such staggering blows is evidence of the undefeated spirit of those who survived them, and who fought on in "X" and "Y" turrets, with the secondary armament, and at the torpedo tubes. It is probable that Sydney sank during the night of the 19th-20th November 1941.
Friday, August 07, 2009
Di lies and weasel words
In a print only Sydney Kruddy Herald 8 August 2009 on page 2.
Apology to Di Yerbury AO
From February 8, 2007, the Herald published a number of articles in print and online, including news blog concerning Professor Di Yerbury who had served as Vice Chancellor of Macquarie University for more than 19 years to February 2006.
Professor Yerbury has alleged that the articles depicted her as dishonesty commingling her private art collection with the University’s own art collection and failing honestly to account for her use of the University’s credit card.
The Herald at no time intended to convey any such allegations against Professor Yerbury
If readers understood the articles as in any way reflecting upon her honesty and probity, the Herald withdraws those allegations and apologies for the hurt to professor Yerbury and any damage to her reputation.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
“Him and me are mates an’ we’re going over together.'
Chapter X The Climax at Anzac
The second attempt to seize control of the Dardanelles was to begin that afternoon, August 6th, starting with a feint at Helles where, at 3.50 p.m., after a short bombardment, part of the 29th Division attacked a section of the Turkish trenches. At Anzac, after Lone Pine and other parts of the old Turkish line had been bombarded in slow shoots at intervals for three days, the rate of fire was increased at 4.30 p.m.
The 1st Australian Infantry Brigade about to attack Lone Pine, was then filing into the trenches facing it and into the newly-opened tunnelled front line ahead of them, from parts of which the shallow lid of turf had just been secretly removed. The tangle of Turkish trenches where the Lone Pine had formerly stood was being slowly bombarded by eight guns and howitzers. Three small mines had been exploded in no-man’s-land close to the enemy front with the purpose of increasing the cover for the troops crossing. By 5 o’clock the 1st Brigade was in position, crowding below the openings in the underground line and on the firestep of the old, deep, open trenches fifty yards behind. “Can you find room for me beside Jim here?” said an Australian who had been searching along the bays. “Him and me are mates an’ we’re going over together.’
At 5.30, with the sun sinking behind them, pouring golden rays over the ridges and parapets, and gilding the white armbands and the calico square on each man’s back
ANZAC TO AMIENS [6th Aug. 1915
(a provision for recognition in the coming night) the troops scrambled out and ran for the Turkish line.
It took a few seconds for the Turks' rifle fire to begin and a few more for their machine-guns. By then the fore-most running figures were nearing the Turkish trenches. There, to the astonishment of onlookers, they bunched, and, as others came up, a crowd gradually lined out along the low mole-hill of enemy parapet like spectators along a street-kerb.
The second attempt to seize control of the Dardanelles was to begin that afternoon, August 6th, starting with a feint at Helles where, at 3.50 p.m., after a short bombardment, part of the 29th Division attacked a section of the Turkish trenches. At Anzac, after Lone Pine and other parts of the old Turkish line had been bombarded in slow shoots at intervals for three days, the rate of fire was increased at 4.30 p.m.
The 1st Australian Infantry Brigade about to attack Lone Pine, was then filing into the trenches facing it and into the newly-opened tunnelled front line ahead of them, from parts of which the shallow lid of turf had just been secretly removed. The tangle of Turkish trenches where the Lone Pine had formerly stood was being slowly bombarded by eight guns and howitzers. Three small mines had been exploded in no-man’s-land close to the enemy front with the purpose of increasing the cover for the troops crossing. By 5 o’clock the 1st Brigade was in position, crowding below the openings in the underground line and on the firestep of the old, deep, open trenches fifty yards behind. “Can you find room for me beside Jim here?” said an Australian who had been searching along the bays. “Him and me are mates an’ we’re going over together.’
At 5.30, with the sun sinking behind them, pouring golden rays over the ridges and parapets, and gilding the white armbands and the calico square on each man’s back
ANZAC TO AMIENS [6th Aug. 1915
(a provision for recognition in the coming night) the troops scrambled out and ran for the Turkish line.
It took a few seconds for the Turks' rifle fire to begin and a few more for their machine-guns. By then the fore-most running figures were nearing the Turkish trenches. There, to the astonishment of onlookers, they bunched, and, as others came up, a crowd gradually lined out along the low mole-hill of enemy parapet like spectators along a street-kerb.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Monday, August 03, 2009
chaos: security was gone
Chapter II – The First World War breaks out
"At 11p.m. on August 4th, English time, Britain declared war on Germany which was already invading those two countries. The present writer can remember how, after the following night’s work at a newspaper office, as he walked home in the small hours through Macquarie Street, Sydney, the clouds, dimly piled high in the four quarters of the dark sky above, seemed to him like the pillared structure of the world’s civilisation, of which some shock had broken the keystones. The wide gap overhead seemed to show where one great pillar after another had crashed as the mutual support had failed; and, as the sky peered through, the last masses seemed to sway above the abyss. The stable world of the nineteenth century was coming down in chaos: security was gone."
The Battle of Romani
Chapter XVI – The defence of Egypt
July-Aug. 1916] DEFENCE OF EGYPT
Murray was urged to attack. But, before he could arrange to do so, on the night of August 2nd the Turks advanced to Katia. It seemed probable that they were marching straight into Murray’s trap. The expectation was that the enemy would try to envelop the southern end of the Romani defences and then to seize the camp and railway behind them.
Accordingly on the following night General Chauvel placed his “resting” Light Horse Brigade, the 1st. as already planned, extending southwards the line held by the 52nd Infantry Division at Romani. Two regiments (2nd and 3rd - about 500 rifles) were lined out very widely south of the camp, in small posts reaching across three miles of hummocky sand, with the main line of lofty sand hills, south-west of the Romani defences, in rear of them.
Chapter XI – The Battle of Romani
3rd-4th Aug., 1916] THE BATTLE OF ROMANI 143
As the 2nd Light Horse Brigade had returned towards Romani in the night from their last reconnaissance, they had observed a Turkish following movement. But a single shot, fired, probably by accident, in front of the outpost line near Hod el Enna at 10.30, was the first indication the Australians had of the close presence of the enemy.
July-Aug. 1916] DEFENCE OF EGYPT
Murray was urged to attack. But, before he could arrange to do so, on the night of August 2nd the Turks advanced to Katia. It seemed probable that they were marching straight into Murray’s trap. The expectation was that the enemy would try to envelop the southern end of the Romani defences and then to seize the camp and railway behind them.
Accordingly on the following night General Chauvel placed his “resting” Light Horse Brigade, the 1st. as already planned, extending southwards the line held by the 52nd Infantry Division at Romani. Two regiments (2nd and 3rd - about 500 rifles) were lined out very widely south of the camp, in small posts reaching across three miles of hummocky sand, with the main line of lofty sand hills, south-west of the Romani defences, in rear of them.
Chapter XI – The Battle of Romani
3rd-4th Aug., 1916] THE BATTLE OF ROMANI 143
As the 2nd Light Horse Brigade had returned towards Romani in the night from their last reconnaissance, they had observed a Turkish following movement. But a single shot, fired, probably by accident, in front of the outpost line near Hod el Enna at 10.30, was the first indication the Australians had of the close presence of the enemy.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
ALP Selective memory
Bob Hawke forgets Hazel.
ALP forgets Bob Hawke's cover-up for Lionel Murphy.
ALP forgets Bob Hawke's treachery towards Hayden. Does Alan Ramsey?
ALP forgets treason by Doc Evatt's staff.
Media forgets to mention these and other ALP stories.
ALP forgets Bob Hawke's cover-up for Lionel Murphy.
ALP forgets Bob Hawke's treachery towards Hayden. Does Alan Ramsey?
ALP forgets treason by Doc Evatt's staff.
Media forgets to mention these and other ALP stories.
Prime Minister War warning he could not decipher it.
When this message reached him Mr. Cook was at Ballarat, where, on the previous night, he had delivered an address.
But he had not the key to the cipher with him, and telegraphed to Melbourne that he could not decipher it.
Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Cook C.G.M.C. M.L.A., N.S.W.. 1891/1901; Member of C‘wealth House of Reps., 1901/21. Prime Minister of Australia, 1913/14; Minister for Navy. 1917/20; Treasurer, 1920/21: High Commissioner, London, 1921/27. Of Bellevue Hill, N.S.W.: b. Silverdale. Staffs.. Eng, Dec. 1860.
But he had not the key to the cipher with him, and telegraphed to Melbourne that he could not decipher it.
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