Almanac Poetry: ‘The Great War – AIF Suite’

Kevin Densley’s ‘The Great War – AIF Suite’ poetry collection is as timely as ever on Anzac Day. Read on for some poignant and arresting reflections on Australian soldiers who fought in World War One.

Almanac Poetry: Brother and Sister

This Tuesday’s poem from Kevin Densley, ‘Brother and Sister’, can be seen as a postscript to his Anzac Day piece about eight Australian soldiers, ‘The Great War – AIF suite’– this time the poem involves a Victorian country town, a great-grandmother he can’t remember meeting, and her brother who died as a German POW in France in 1916.

Almanac History: Captain Bert James, R.A.F. (1895-1918)

Kevin Densley remembers his relative, Captain Bert James RAF whose life was tragically cut short in a flying accident during WW1.

Villers-Bretonneux remembers once again: School supports bushfire efforts

What a fantastic message from the students of the Victoria School, Villers-Bretonneux, France for sharing information of their efforts in supporting victims of the Australian bushfires. [Thanks Citrus Bob – Ed]

Almanac History: Centenary of First Plebiscite on Conscription

Next week is the centenary of the plebiscite when Australia voted NO to conscription, a national event that Glen feels is overlooked.

The Ultimate Sacrifice

As we approach the centenary of the Battle of the Somme next week, Neil Drysdale highlights the difference between so called sporting “tragedies” and “disasters” and those that occurred on the battlefields of war.

A tribute to South Melbourne champion Bruce Sloss

Richard Davis pays tribute to Bruce Sloss, the South Melbourne champion who almost won the 1914 Grand Final off his own boot, but who was tragically one of 60,000 Australian soldiers killed during the first World War.