An early night was in the offering, yet refused, what with eating drinking and blog writing.
An early start however was obligatory, 2.45AM to be up, dressed and out of here at 3.30AM so we can to to Villers Bretonneux in good time, and avoid the rush.
Slept badly, had a dream we got to the Dawn Service as dawn was breaking!!.
Was woken by Walter going to the loo and then the alarm went off not 1 minute later.
Dressed, quick cup of lukewarm coffee, check on Walter who is dithering, even though all his gear was ready last night and finally into the bus right on 3.30AM. It is cold, yet no rain and looks like none overnight.
A quiet drive to the Memorial, little traffic. The gendarmerie try and stop us at the village, yet finally relent and we are driven right to the entrance of the Memorial.
There's a walk of about 200 metres to the Memorial itself and we get good seats in the front third.
On the way we are handed a programme and a small FranceAustralian pin badge.
There are about 5000 seats put out and by the start of the service they look full.
The crow are entertained by a school band from Australia and a choir. The service is being broadcast live to Oz via the ABC and we even have a big screen, albeit off to the right.
Finally, the service commences. It is cold, very cold, my legs are freezing so I stand most of the time. My body gets cold too in spite of two icebreakers, windproof jacket and Gortex raincoat.
I remember I have a down jacket back at the hotel-too late.
The Service is very moving, especially when the High School students read out the names of about 20 Australian's who were killed, their age, occupations and their next of kin.
The Ambassador Designate to France Ric Wells speaks well, both in English nad French. Even the Minister for Veteran's Affairs Warren Snowdon is articulate, though just slightly too long.
The last post is truly magnificent from the Memorial Tower, as is the reveille following the minutes silence.
The service finishes and we all, the 5000 of scramble for the buses, which arrive in orderly fashion.
It's then off to V-B for breakfast and the service there. Breakfast is coffee and croissants. The service is very similar to the Dawn Service, with lots of wreath laying, however this time a French Honour Guard and the French version of the last post.
It's then on to Bullecort and its memorial service and a march to the "Digger Memorial"
On the way to Bullecort some of us nod off, it has been an early morning. Walter nods off, yet as we get into Bullecort he has assumed a very odd posture, gone very pale and stopped breathing. Oh FUCK!!
There is no room in the bus, we are on the move, I can't lie him down however I do mange to adjust his head and neck and he starts breathing but not responding. Pale sweaty and unresponsive.
Our driver manages to get an official to call the local First Aid people who arrive.
By this time he is awake, though hardly alert and very confused. His oxygen Sats are 97% so that's a good sign, though his blood pressure is rather low. He comes too as the female first aider is removing some of his clothes
Dealing with French Fist Aiders is odd to say the least. A doctor from Amiens Emergency gets on the phone and has a chat to Walter who by this time is much better.
It is decided that with his diarrhoea yesterday, no tea last night, very little breakfast, getting cold, he probably just dropped both blood pressure and blood sugar levels and maybe was a bit hypothermic.
We take him to the Mayor's office where he sits in the warmth with a couple of cups of coffee.
By this time the weather has lost the plot and it is raining quite heavily. We are happy to be out of the rain.
This is enough drama for one day, so after a lunch in the bus, which Walter enjoys heartily, it's back to Amiens, where he quite sensible takes to his bed and falls asleep.
With some of the others I take a walk around Amiens, past Notre Dame again and down to the Somme River and through some of the old parts of the town.
Now quite weary, I head back to the hotel to get all this done and check on Walter. He is sleeping AND breathing.
Picasa Album pictures
An early start however was obligatory, 2.45AM to be up, dressed and out of here at 3.30AM so we can to to Villers Bretonneux in good time, and avoid the rush.
Slept badly, had a dream we got to the Dawn Service as dawn was breaking!!.
Was woken by Walter going to the loo and then the alarm went off not 1 minute later.
Dressed, quick cup of lukewarm coffee, check on Walter who is dithering, even though all his gear was ready last night and finally into the bus right on 3.30AM. It is cold, yet no rain and looks like none overnight.
A quiet drive to the Memorial, little traffic. The gendarmerie try and stop us at the village, yet finally relent and we are driven right to the entrance of the Memorial.
There's a walk of about 200 metres to the Memorial itself and we get good seats in the front third.
 |
| Dawn breaks over Australian War Memorial, Viller Bretonneux |
There are about 5000 seats put out and by the start of the service they look full.
The crow are entertained by a school band from Australia and a choir. The service is being broadcast live to Oz via the ABC and we even have a big screen, albeit off to the right.
Finally, the service commences. It is cold, very cold, my legs are freezing so I stand most of the time. My body gets cold too in spite of two icebreakers, windproof jacket and Gortex raincoat.
I remember I have a down jacket back at the hotel-too late.
The Service is very moving, especially when the High School students read out the names of about 20 Australian's who were killed, their age, occupations and their next of kin.
The Ambassador Designate to France Ric Wells speaks well, both in English nad French. Even the Minister for Veteran's Affairs Warren Snowdon is articulate, though just slightly too long.
The last post is truly magnificent from the Memorial Tower, as is the reveille following the minutes silence.
The service finishes and we all, the 5000 of scramble for the buses, which arrive in orderly fashion.
It's then off to V-B for breakfast and the service there. Breakfast is coffee and croissants. The service is very similar to the Dawn Service, with lots of wreath laying, however this time a French Honour Guard and the French version of the last post.
It's then on to Bullecort and its memorial service and a march to the "Digger Memorial"
On the way to Bullecort some of us nod off, it has been an early morning. Walter nods off, yet as we get into Bullecort he has assumed a very odd posture, gone very pale and stopped breathing. Oh FUCK!!
There is no room in the bus, we are on the move, I can't lie him down however I do mange to adjust his head and neck and he starts breathing but not responding. Pale sweaty and unresponsive.
Our driver manages to get an official to call the local First Aid people who arrive.
By this time he is awake, though hardly alert and very confused. His oxygen Sats are 97% so that's a good sign, though his blood pressure is rather low. He comes too as the female first aider is removing some of his clothes
Dealing with French Fist Aiders is odd to say the least. A doctor from Amiens Emergency gets on the phone and has a chat to Walter who by this time is much better.
It is decided that with his diarrhoea yesterday, no tea last night, very little breakfast, getting cold, he probably just dropped both blood pressure and blood sugar levels and maybe was a bit hypothermic.
We take him to the Mayor's office where he sits in the warmth with a couple of cups of coffee.
By this time the weather has lost the plot and it is raining quite heavily. We are happy to be out of the rain.
This is enough drama for one day, so after a lunch in the bus, which Walter enjoys heartily, it's back to Amiens, where he quite sensible takes to his bed and falls asleep.
With some of the others I take a walk around Amiens, past Notre Dame again and down to the Somme River and through some of the old parts of the town.
Now quite weary, I head back to the hotel to get all this done and check on Walter. He is sleeping AND breathing.
Picasa Album pictures
Where was the ABC of first response. Or were you hoping for a single room
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