The MAGIC of the ANZAC dawn ceremony....

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The ANZAC wall grows....

ANZAC dawn service...

Today I went to the ANZAC dawn service in Dunedin.

We had to get up at 5am.  It started at 6am.

James and I got to wear Great Grandad George's medals.

It was very amazing, first the soldiers led the march over to a big statue and their were bagpipes and drums playing.

The drums kept in time with the soldiers march. Then some of the Sergeants spoke a bit about how it felt to be in the war and asked us to imagine living day and night in those flooded trenches with flies and insects around you the enemy spying on you, and the risk of getting killed or even your mates getting killed. They were very brave to put their own lives in danger to fight for our country. At the end they let off two cannons, it was SO LOUD! It is the loudest thing I have ever heard, it made everybody jump and somebody's car alarm went off, then a lady fainted! There was a heap of dust and when it had cleared they let of four gunshots but not with bullets, just the gunpowder, but it was still VERY loud! After that the man asked us to imagine that we were one of those soldiers and we had to live for years with those hideously loud guns going off day and night. Cannons being fired and dead bodies everywhere.

After the service Dad took James and I to McDonald's and we had breakfast.

RSA

Today we went to the RSA to have a visit. There were a lot of people who died in the war.  I learnt a lot about the war. It was so sad.

RSA

Today we went to the R.S.A.  We learnt about Anzac day.

We learnt that it was not fun, it was very scary. A lot of people went to war but not all of them came back. It didn't feel good to kill. If there was not the war, things wouldn't be the same today.

We saw a lot of medals and photos of people who fought in the war.   

Going to the RSA

When we were walking into the R.S.A there were lots of knives and guns in a glass box. At the top there was also some old money that they used in the war. When you walked in the entrance there were some old newspapers.  They were about when the war was going on, saying make peace and stuff about the British Queen and who declared war which was Britain and France. There were lots of medals on the wall. All of the men who went to war, and there was a lot  of them that had died at the war or battle, it would be half of all of the men that served our country in great honour.  There was great big plaques on the top of all the walls or in a glass box with other things, like medals and books. In one glass case there were bullets and men's suits and armour.  There was a gigantic frame full of badges. It was really interesting because every single one has a different shape or size. There was also a man that was in the battle called Ray Currie.  He had a talk with us and he said that it was really hard for him to get through and everyday was like a year because the days were so long.  When we were walking back to school we saw a massive stone building and it had all of the names of people who had died in the war. Mrs K saw one of her friends that she knows from church and he was in the air force in World War 2 which is really amazing.  He was saying that you need to know a lot about the weather and what is high and what is low so you have to be pretty smart to take all of it in, but it would be cool to learn what is what.

RSA

To day we went to the R.S.A to learn all about the war. There was a guy there from the, way back. His name was Ray. Then I saw a guy on the wall called L. Jackson. After we had a little look around we went in a little room where there is a lot of war stuff. I tried on a war hat.  It was very big and it was very sore. When we left we saw a man from the war.  He told us about the war as well. It was very cool to learn about. 

ANZAC

Today we went to the RSA to meet some old soldiers that went to the War. Their names were Bing and R.W. Currie. They told us all about the War and what it was like back then. We asked them all sorts of questions. One of them was what did it feel like to shoot and kill someone? R.W Currie’s answer was “It didn’t feel nice at all!” We got some Rosemary on our way out.

Finding Outs.

·       War was a very dangerous place

·       It was did not feel very nice to kill someone

·       There were 2721 New Zealand soldiers that died

My feelings about the WAR!

War does not seem nice at all and it isn’t!

I feel so sad for the families with young boys that have died in the War. How must of it felt to get a telegram in the mail saying that your one or two or even three young boys have died or got killed in the War.

Medals

Today I learnt there are medals for lots of different things like bravery and for saving lives. They had to live in a trench for four years and stand in the mud. There was no going back. You had to stay and do your job. If a man dropped his gun other people can take it.

Anzac

Today we went to the RSA. We went there to look at all of the medals, ammunition, model war ships and tin helmets. We meet Mr. Currie who served in the war.  He is 92. He was a soldier. We looked at some photos of other people who served in the war. I found some of Callum’s relatives. We had a person who greeted us at the door. He showed us around. The person who greeted us was Bing. Elvia told us some stories about the war.  

Anzac

Today we went to the R.S.A and looked at medals and photos of people that died in the war. It was interesting to learn about the world war they were in and how many people survived and how many people went to war. I enjoyed looking at their helmets. I liked looking at how big their bullets were. We met Bing and he told us some amazing stories about World War 1 and World War 2. Then I went upstairs and saw millions of medals. I got rosemary, and it reminded me of the world war. We talked to people in the war or not in the war. We went into this room and saw helmets and a field gun shell. I looked around and then came back to put on the helmet and it was quite heavy.  Then I got to hold the field gun shell and it weighed more than the helmet. We went back and then went straight back into the room again. We asked brilliant questions and some got answered. We gave him a thank you and walked back. We went to go memorial and meet Mrs. K’s friend.  He told us a story about the war too and there were hundreds of people that died. On one side of the memorial it showed who died in World War 1 or 2.

ANZAC

Today we went to the R.S.A.  When we went in there, there were a lot of pictures of people that either died or lived.  Also there were men who came and talked to us about the war and Anzac day. I learnt that people that are the messengers on the Radios only get 2 seconds to come out of the trenches.

I learnt that Anzac means Australia and New Zealand army corps. I also learnt that it would be so hard living in a trench full of mud and everything. I learnt that Anzac biscuits have been around for a long time. I also learnt that there was a man called Simpson.  He had a donkey and he picked up during the war injured or dead people and took them to a doctor. One day he got shot and this very day people from New Zealand and Australia still visit his grave. I learnt that in the war there were no rules. Also in the war they use weapons that we are not allowed and don’t have now. I learnt that there were thousands of people that were in the war that never came back which was really sad. I learnt a lot today and I enjoyed it.

  

A good day today

Today we went to the R.S.A for a tour. When we got there a man called Bing was

standing at the door ready to start the tour. First we looked at all the weapons and a map of Gallipoli. Then he led us over to all the people who were in the war. He said that most of them died. There were a lot of people on the wall. Then my Nana came over to say hello. Then Nana gave us all a piece of rosemary. It smells really nice. After that we got to read a poem on the wall. We went into a room and looked at the war hats and lots of pictures. My Nana said that there was a picture of my Grandad on the wall and she showed me where it was. Bing took it down for me and my Nana and I got a picture together. Today was a good day and there was lots of learning.

The trench

Today at the R.S.A I found out the different meanings for different medals like for saving a life and for bravery. Bing told us about the war and after that we got to ask him some questions and he had really good answers for them. Bing also said that if a soldier dropped his gun he would have to go to jail. One thing I still can’t believe is they had to live in a trench for years and years.    

Anzac

Today we went to learn about the war. At the R.S.A there are lots of weapons and ammo.  There were also lots of badges and photos of people from World War 1 and 2.  I saw a thing called an ode; it is sort of like prayer or a remembrance. After the R.S.A we went to Mosgiel war memorial.  There were a lot of names on the tower of people who died. At the R.S.A. I learnt that there are badges called sweetheart badges. I felt very sad for all the people who died.

ANZAC day

Today we went to the R.S.A.  We got to learn a bit about ANZAC day and a lot about the war. We got to meet Mr. Currie.  He was in World War 2 and is now 92. We got to wear army helmets and see little models of boats. We also got some rosemary.  Some people got to see some relatives.  We had a man named Bing who greeted us at the doors.  We got to see tank shells and bullet shells.

The soldiers

The hats that the soldiers wore, felt like they were one ton. There are lots and lots of medals to be earned. I felt sad seeing the guns people got shot with. We got to see the fabric that would be on the medals to say what the medals were given for. The soldiers had to live in trenches that they made themselves. Once the soldiers were in the war they could not go home unless they were hurt.

RSA

On the 24^th of April our class walked down to the R.S.A and made Anzac biscuits for the elderly. We took photos of people that were in the war and people that had died in the war with their medals. We also took photos of the medals that some of the soldiers were given. We learnt that the men in the war had to wear hard hats that were made out of metal. There was also a poem about the soldiers that had died in Flanders field. The poem that they wrote was for the men that died in the war and now are in Flanders field. They wore metal armor that protected there bodies. I wonder what it would be like to kill somebody. The soldiers slept in trenches night by night and were very uncomfortable. Later on a lady gave some Rosemary to every one in our class. The Rosemary smelt like rose petals. Some people took photos of other people wearing a metal hat. Some of the medals that were up on the wall belonged to some of the old people that were at the R.S.A but they didn’t really like to tell us about them. A man told us how the war started and how it finished it was very interesting. Some of the people found there great grandfathers picture up on the wall. I wonder what it would feel like to be in the war and to kill people. I think it would be horrible! There was also a sign that said “At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them”. The saying reminded me of my grandad. I can’t wait to go again.

ANZAC biscuits

Today I learnt how to make ANZAC biscuits that they ate a lot in the war because they last a long time. I also learnt about the trenches they had to live in. Imagine having to live in a hole you dug. How horrible! Yesterday we learnt about the young man, Simpson, who went to war as one of those people who carried the dead or injured to the nurses. Simpson kept on doing his duty even when he was in grave danger. In the end Simpson got shot. Now people from Australia and New Zealand go and visit his grave. Today we also went to the RSA who have lots of ANZAC helmets and medals and ANZAC memorabilia. We also talked to people that were either on the war or know lots about it. We asked lots of questions and they were happy to give us answers to our questions.

ANZAC

On the 24^th April our class went to the RSA to learn about the war.  We met a man at the door.  I learnt that some people have sweetheart badges.  The man told us that the poppies are for all the men that got shot in the war. He said that the Second World War started when the enemy went into Poland so British went to war. In the war people had to wear thick helmets to stop the bombs from killing them.