Rob Masters

One hundred years ago, a group of Australian and New Zealand troops (with some Indian troops as well) landed on the shores of Gallipoli. They were opposed by the troops of the Ottoman Empire, lead by a colonel Mustafa Kemal.  Although poorly lead, the ANZAC troops fought bravely, and impressed the opposing troops and their commander - not that this made them ease up in any way. It did, however, open the path to a number of truces to recover wounded and to bury the dead. In the end, the ANZACs were forced to retreat, but did so with great cunning - leaving the Ottoman troops thinking the area was still defended for several hours.  The troops on both sides fought with incredible bravery, and had the respect of their enemies. After the war was over, both sides spoke well of the quality of the other. And the Ottoman commander? He is better known as Atatürk, and founded the modern republic of Turkey. And, nineteen years later, in 1934 Atatürk wrote this tribute: "Those heroes that shed...

At the end of The Great War, where our youth, our brightest, and best went to stand for their country, and died in their thousands, the cry amongst the world leaders was 'Never Again!' And yet it did. And again our youth - the brightest and best - went out to fight, and died in the widest-reaching conflict in our history. And again, and again, in dozens of smaller wars and conflicts. Out they go, to serve, and to die, and why? To protect. Be it peacekeeping in the Balkans, police action in South East Asia, Search and Rescue, fighting against a mighty dictator bent on world domination, or even the current ambiguous actions - they go and serve, trusting their leaders that what they do is to protect. Be it our own country or the people of another. And some pay the ultimate sacrifice. And many more return with bodies and minds and souls shattered.  And today, it is them - not the leaders sent them - who we remember. It is they who we honour, not the wars. It is they, and their brav...