In Flanders Fields, the Poppies Blow

ed short days

In Flanders Fields, the Poppies blow. 

This is the story of one soldier in the Second World War and his experience on the KAKODA track, a story, he was not allowed to tell. Sadly he passed away sometime agoe, followed shortly after by his wife, Pat. His name was RAY and he carried a heavy amotional load most of his over seventy year life. a,much Medal'd and Braided man. A War veteren of some standing.

In the early 1990's whilst sitting on a bench, in Katoomba, some 130 kilometres west of Sydney I met an old fello, who told me he had witnessed Japanese prisoners being executed by our soldiers, on the Kakoda track, in the second world war. I listened and wondered if it was true. We parted and I never saw him again. The subject lay dormant  until I met Ray.

And so to Ray's story. Back in the early part of 2000, I lead a small spiritual group of people from all,ethnic and religious backgrounds. We met once a month , on a Sunday afternoon, an average of thirty souls. We had a lovely lady who played an Organ (softly) . I invited us all to sit quietly for a about a minute, in order that we could come together as ONE. he was always very attentive of my stories both serious and silly. and they always sat on the front row and always on the same seats.

One day he approached me and asked, if we could talk privately and so we went out side and he told me his story, bitter memories and rejection by the RSL.

At first he was hessitant to start, his story of  his horrific experience on the Kakoda track. So I briefly told him I had been three airline crashes, numerous civil disturbances,ie caught in cross fire, in a number of Countries. The worst being interrogated by the Viet Min in Saigon, an incident my British Government refused to acknowledge.

Not holding back now, he told me of one day, they had taken some Japanese soldiers prisoners. The officer, told Ray they could not take prisoners. Take them into the 'Bush' and deal with them. Do not forget to bring back their identity TAGS, which he did.

Where were they buried, Ray knew exactly.

For many years he tried to tell his story to the RSL (Returned Servicemens League), but they rejected him and told him to Get Over It and don't mention the subject again.Sadly our brave soldier, suffured most of his life, that  is until he met the writer. of this blog.

One sunday, when we were having another privet conversation, he requested I record on tape the poem 'In Flanders Fields' from the first World War, which I did, in order that he could play it each year at Rememberance Day.You see towards the end of his life, could'nt bear to attend the ceremonies on the 11th November, following the 2nd November ' The Retaking of KAKODA' 1942.

About three or four year agoe, I heard ,just once, a news item, about a group of Japanese, visited KAKODA, endeavouring to locate the burial sites of a number of Japanese soldiers, where stories of how they died 'Did Not Quite Gel'. Then silence.

Ray now has his story told. As I always say, my blogs are stories, based on facts,as I remember them.

In flanders Fields, the Poppies blow,

Between the Crosses row by row,

That mark our place, and in the sky,

The Larks, still bravely singing fly,

Scarce heard amid the guns below,

We are dead short days agoe

The Poem continues, on the page that Ray gave me , so long  agoe. Iam looking at that page,right with the marks of the verses,he wanted me to record.

Your story. It is done Ray my friend. I was not invited to your funeral, I think because, no one knew of our special friendship,outside of that small Spiritiual Group.

Kindest thoughts to all like you, on Rememberance Day

Malcolm E Mason November 1, 2020.

 

I Wish

A while agoe, a now deceased Artist of beautiful Landscape and nature in general, gave a verse, she had written to a friend. The lady one June Wickenden, used the title "I Wish" and here it is.

I wish that time would stop it's rush
Lets have some slow, a little hush
Too soon the day becomes the past
and memories in our souls are cast
Look to the future people say
but nostalgia always finds a way .
determined to unlock the heart,
so old times can play their part
and bring them flooding sweet and sad
to remind us of the times we've had.
Sometimes a song or special place
a dear old friend's familiar face
people and places gone for good'
An ugly tower where trees once stood.
We can't go back to good old times
so all that's left to do, is hang on tight, 
get a grip we're heading for a faster trip'
A better World in many ways , though
some may long for slower days.
Let's love this life and do our best
just being here, we're surely blessed.

June Wickenden

Love, Patricia and Malcolm

Family Court of Australia-Not Quite Family!.

I have always advised that my blogs are Stories based on Facts as I Remember them. In this case, it is in the now.
 Some politicians in the recent past, have expressed the thought, that the Whole family should be able to be involved  in Court proceedings, if they so desire.  I heartily agree. as I am strongly of the belief that FAMILY is----  Children: Parents and Grand Parents. It goes back to me telling children and grand children, when they were frightened say, of spiders or a spider. No no don't kill it,because there are Daddy spiders, Mummy spiders and Grandma and Grandad spiders.they all want to live as a family, just like us.
Over simplified, may be, but the message is clear and this blog is written to make the case for ALL the Family to be involved in Court Proceedings as deemed necessary, by the Grandparents if they so desire.
Family Court of Australia -Parramatta, New South Wales 2150
Here  we go, a story without names, just titles ,like Registrars Office, Child,Mother and Father, Grandma and Grandad. I hope this works for us and I get the message over clear and loud enough.

The Government of the day, that is March 2019,has announced a multi million project to assist people at risk of domestic violence, I hope it includes both Women and men . At the same time someone has said - The Family Court has case to answer, in their slow take up of cases,months on end.

Here with in my Story, based on one case, where there has been continued  but inconsistant messages from the Parramtta Court, NSW.. I have advocated that as a grandparent (Grandfather) I should be allowed to have my say and that of of  (Grandmother) but mainly.in this case the Grandfather. Sending copies of his submission to the Registrar, to the Chief Justice of the Court, who is very silent on the matter,. as are Judges in general, always.seemingly hiding behind Registry.

At first the registry, sent the Grandad's submission back and so off he went to  obtain an Afidavit, supposidly to prove his identity etc. This done he returned the  documents to the court, with copy of
correspondence to the Mother and Father equally assuming they would show to their solicitors
respectivly. Goodness,no, not that easy, a reply came saying the afidavit was not acceptable, the
Grandad was annoyed,as it had been done by a qualified person at ServiceNSW, which had recently started operations. The writer of the refusal was a person with at least 21 letters to the name, I
assumed it was a junior clerk from Sari Lanka or India.

The Grandad wrote again

This time the actual registrar responded in the negative, but did not, this time, return all the submission documents, which must have ment something.

 Apparantly the case came up and the presiding Magistrate! made a ruling, which has never been
available to the Grandfather or Grandmother..

The mother and child left the father in 2018 and the case has dragged on ever since.

The only people who benefited from the case are the Chief Justice of the Court, The Magistrate and
the Registrar and staff by reason , they still have a paid job not adaquatly carried out.

The big winners are the Solicitors and their staff, again not adequatley getting closure for their clients.

Apparantly if The Grandfather asks the Court for the transcipt of the Judgement , Registry may send a copy to the Mother and Fathers solicitor, who will propably charge another  big fee.. What wonderful gravy train

Yes-- All the family must be allowed to contribute to cases of this kind,in order that the presiding Magistrate can have a truely  balanced picture, of the case before the Court.

Remember Grandaparents, know their children better than any and should have their views taken in to account.

Malcolm E Mason