A Warrior comes home. Kia Kaha Brother.

[FlyingKiwi]

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

A minute’s silence was observed around New Zealand, as it is every year for our Day of Remembrance. Observed at the same time and day as the cessation of hostilities at the end of World War 1.

This year at Wellington Cathedral, the remains of an unknown soldier have been given a full military escort from a small village in France where he had lain since 1916.

Marched through our capital with full military escort and honours on a 25-pound gun carriage, he has been laid to rest on New Zealand’s soil.

It was pointed out by our Commander In Chief, that if all the Kiwis who have fallen since the Boer War were marched 3 abreast behind his coffin, the line would be over 3 miles long.

Per Capita, New Zealand gave more in two World Wars than any other country. Now we have returned their spirits to rest in Aoteaoroa.

It is an honour to have served wearing the same flag.

Kia Kaha Brothers.

[DaSharkie]

"For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know."

As our tomb of the unknowns reads:

"Here rests in honored glory, and American soldier, known but to God."

Just replace the 'American' with 'Kiwi' and you have the same sentiment.

And on that note, from one vet to all others out there, on the 11th day of the 11th month....

Thank you brothers.

[Jim917]

"It is the soldier, not the reporter who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag."

Father Denis Edward O'Brien, Sergeant, USMC
Chaplain, 1st Marine Division Association

[StayBack500FT]

Amen, Brother!

[FlyingKiwi]

Quinn's Post, 8.10pm, 5.8.15.

My sweetheart,

In less than 2 Hours we move off to a valley, where we will be up all night and tomorrow in readiness for a big attack which will start tomorrow night. Everything promises well and victory should rest with us.

God grant it so and that our casualties will not be too heavy.

I expect to go thro' all right but dear wife if anything untoward happens to me you must not grieve too much - there are our dear children to be brought up.

You know how I love and have loved you, and we have had many years of great happiness together.

If at any time in the past I seemed absorbed in 'affairs' it was that I might make proper provision for you and the children. That was due from me.

It is true that perhaps I overdid it some what.

I believe now that I did, but did not see it at the time.

I regret very much now that it was so and that I lost more happiness than I need have done.

You must forgive me.

Forgive also anything unkindly or hard that I may have done or said in the past.

I have made a will and it is at the office at Stratford. I think it was justly drawn. Anyway I intended it so to be. I hope and think that the provision for you and the children will keep you and them in ease and comfort. I know that you will never forget me or let the dear children do so.

I am prepared for death and hope that God will have forgiven me all my sins.

My desire for life so that I may see and be with you again could not be greater, but I have only done what every man was bound to do in our country's need.

It has been a great consolation to me that you approved my actions. The sacrifice was really yours.

May you be consoled and rewarded by our dear Lord.

Your loving husband,

Wm G Malone.

* Lieutenant Colonel William Malone, the commanding officer of the Wellington Infantry Battalion, wrote the letter home from Gallipoli. After leading his men on to Chunuk Bair on August 8, 1915, he was killed by a shell that evening.

His body was never found, and he is remembered on the Memorial to the Missing at Chunuk Bair.

The New Zealand death toll at Gallipoli was 2721.


One of many unknowns

The Unknown Warrior is almost certainly an Army soldier.

His remains are those of a New Zealander who died in northern France during World War I - probably in the advance at the Somme, in September 1916.

More than 1500 New Zealanders died in Somme battles, and more than 1272 have no grave or lie unidentified in graves.

The term "warrior" has been used instead of soldier. This is to ensure the tomb represents all three services, Navy, Army and Air Force.

The remains of many air crew and sailors have also never been recovered. Nine thousand New Zealanders killed in wars have no marked grave.

The idea is that, being unknown, the Unknown Warrior will represent all New Zealanders who have fought and died overseas.

[VinnieB]

Originally posted by Jim917
[B

Father Denis Edward O'Brien, Sergeant, USMC
Chaplain, 1st Marine Division Association [/B]

WOW!...That's twice I have seen his quote!....I knew Father O'Brien very well. We have had MANY long conversations together......He was a Marine Infantry man who landed on Guadalcanal in August of 1942....he felt sorry about all the killing he did and became a Priest.......I met him through the 1st Marine Div Association....my Father is a Past President.......

[Jim917]

Vinnie, my son - who is presently in Irag - had sent me the quote last Veteran's Day. I spent quite a bit of time trying to fully document it. The web site for the 1st Marine Division was an excellent resource.

The full posting is quite moving. He must have been one heck of a man to go from the US Marines into the priesthood.

[superchef]

Ian
Thank you for your posts.

Father O'Brien's quote is a reminder to all of us that we owe our freedoms to all the warriors.

Thank you all.

[VinnieB]

Originally posted by Jim917

The full posting is quite moving. He must have been one heck of a man to go from the US Marines into the priesthood.

Father O'Brian was a GREAT man to say the least. After the war he went back to Guadalcanal as a missionary and helped rebuild villages...set up schools, hospitals...etc. He was an extreamly humble man as well.

And thanks for your sons service. Is he a Marine?