The impact of World War I was felt throughout all the nations who were involved in that conflict. The losses hit Australian families hard as their loved ones died so far from home and were interred, or remembered, in places where they were unlikely to ever visit. War Memorials became a local way of remembering … More Remembrance Day 2023
It may be that, on a daily basis, I take our country’s peace for granted rather than give thanks for it. Yes, it has things that could be done better or differently, but overall we are indeed the Lucky Country when it comes to peace. Yes, I am aware that our Indigenous Australians paid a … More The Price of Peace
For the astounding loss of human life and potential around the world. For those who served and gave their lives, ally or enemy For their country’s cause, safety and honour. For the ANZACs who travelled so far to fight in distant lands. For the families and communities left behind to wait and mourn, And the … More Lest We Forget 2019
Today as the sun rises around the country, people will gather to remember the men and women who’ve served in Australia’s wars over the years. However, the particular focus will be on the centenary of the cessation of conflict in the War to end all Wars. Hand crafted poppies will blanket memorials to represent each … More One hundred years: Remembrance Day 2018
One hundred years ago today my grandfather, Denis Joseph Kunkel, was at sea en route to England thence to the war in France. He had volunteered with his younger brother, James Edward, on 22 October 1917[1] probably as part of a push at the time to recruit qualified railway workers to work on the lines … More Grandad goes to war: Remembrance Day 2017
As we move through the centenary of World War I, it’s time to put Australia’s war history into a more realistic perspective. We do ourselves a disservice, as well as the men who served and those who lost their lives, when we insist they were brave all the time and were immune to the effects of … More Death of an ANZAC Lieutenant
Today’s Remembrance Day is particularly poignant as we honour the fallen from all our wars, but especially from World War I. The intensity of remembrance over the next four years may almost become overwhelming. It is impossible to imagine the reality of the horrors and terrors those men suffered through the long months and years … More Lest We Forget… those who came home
For Remembrance Day 2013, I’m going to share with you the brief story of a man who has no family connection to me whatsoever. He made himself known through a photograph found in my cousin’s extensive photo collection. My 4th cousin in Sydney is one of those people who has myriad photographs stored in suitcases … More Remembrance Day 2013: Erle Victor Weiss
A couple of my family’s fallen Diggers, James Augustus Gavin and William Rudolph (Robert) Kunkel, were remembered in earlier posts. Today I want to focus on the service of the Australian Diggers in World War I who were descendants of the mid-19thcentury Dorfprozelten immigrants, five of whom gave their lives and another 17 served in … More Remembrance Day: honouring the Australian-born Diggers with German ancestry
Family history across the seas 