TO THE SON OF A SOLDIER OF THE 53RD BATTALION

Taken from the Jackson Blog PNG Attitude

Dear Mr Buckingham,

I felt sad and ashamed to read your words on your
95 year old father, veteran and signalman of the 53^rd
on Abuari Ridge. You wrote he cries even now. Your

father would not be the only one.

You say he never attends ANZAC Day. I could imagine

that. His days on Kokoda do not allow remembrance

of good and bad times. There were no good times for

the 53rd militia.

Both the 39^th and 53^rd suffered casualties. But it was far
worse for your father’s battalion. The soldiers suffered
silence as if they had done wrong from people who were
not there. They were labourers not soldiers who found
themselves in battle.

Our nation has not ever given your father and his mates

the compassion and respect due to them. So many had

died for their country, unhonoured and untrained. 

Your father went into combat with no training in using

a rifle. That is not the military way.

Please give my respects to your father and his friends.