The night had been restless, the anticipation, the feelings,the united efforts of thousands and a long day of travel had added to the expectation of a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Like our troops the journey had been long over 16000kms directly but some 24590kms by my indirect route. Arriving in a new Country well away from the sights and comforts of Australia.

While I did not march there had been the 3900kms of overland travel,also to be united, with countryman and more importantly with friends.

I glanced at the time 9.59pm 24th April, I listened things were so still compared to the chaos that would erupt in less then a minute.

The battles had raged over Europe and into Russia since 1915 and following the surrender of Russia tens of thousands of German soldiers were free to join the push against the Allies seeking the trade target of Amiens in Northern France.

The British had lost their defence of the village of Villiers- Bretonneux at dawn this morning.

Our boy's of the Australian 13th & 15th Brigades now fixed baynonets ready at 10pm to move into the Village. Not used to night fighting nor put off by the fact that the Germans knew of the plan to retake Villers-Bretonneux. The fighting so ferce hand to hand often in a bleak cold rain soaked environment but shortly the village was secure and never to fall again into German hands.

The cost had been large over 2500 of our troops were slaughtered and remain forever in a foreign land. Many do not even have a name upon the headstone.

My billy had boiled, the police had moved out of their barracks and headed for operational duty, to protect the 8000 returning Australians.

I looked at my ID and reflected on my N number, my father when he went to War also carried an N number around his neck.

I aroused many others from the 5 different motels at Glisey that served as our barracks and in the bitter cold we headed off on foot in the darkness to be reunited with our lost ones.

It was ,in a few hours, to be Anzac Day 2018, that day exactly when our troops liberated the Village of Villiers-Bretonneux 100 years ago.

Our numbers grew but not like the 77000 Australian Troops who had served in this theatre of war but the largest every group of mates seeking to be with fellow long lost mates.

We were processed and saved the hike to the Military Cemetry as buses were quickly loaded and under Police escort given right of way through the still dark France countryside until disembarkation left a mere 300m walk mostly in silence to the Australian National Memorial. This was not new as I had visited on two previous occassions but the mood tonight was somber and highly reflective as Heads of State from around the world saw fit to seek an invitation to join Australians on this immortial day.

Australians had come from every state, those living overseas joined by, bus loads of students who had also travelled around the world to be there. I had met a 6yr old Australian,Victor, who proudly told me this was his second Anzac Day visit-so far.

The lights were dim and seemed totally in place as we marched towards our National Memorial emitting a distinct but relevant blue lighting mode.

We heard from some of our slain troops whose images were projected onto the memorial, the youth of Australia & France told of stories of courage,grief and loss often not just one son but brothers from the same families lost forever but never forgotten as we say "they shall not grow old,as we that are left grow,age shall not weary them,nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun and in the morning well will remember them.
Lest we Forget

There were many speeches, reflections and wreaths to be laid but for those there the bond of mateship can never be reflected in words and so written descriptions mean little.

The real walk of life was following in the footsteps of our troops on the same land at the same times and in the same cold,wet conditions that had been suffered by our troops.

We may have been thousands but our presence was but as guests as we passed row upon row of white headstones bearing The Unknown Soldier lies here inscription. We had found each other.

Even my hylographic dog tag offered solitude as I turned it over an image so like that of another lost friend appeared out of the darkness.