Eric Bogle tells the story behind his famous Anti-war song: "No Man's land/The green fields of France". He returns to the battle fields of the Somme and drags up memories from the past and tells us his thinking behind the famous song.
I'm Irish. My grandmother's family were Welsh Quaker's, my grandfather was a Cork Man. They ended up serving together and that's how my grandparents met. My grandmother's brother's refused to bear Arms and they became Stretcher Bearer's, That's what Quaker's were expected to do. All 4 amazingly survived the great war. Of the O'Leary side of the family 3 of 4 survived but a brother passed away at Chelsea Hospital and so it was 2 of 4. That's the O'Leary's, the other side their name was Davis. My Dad's family are Mulligan's. Such is life.
I visited the Australian cemeteries on the Somme with French relatives who let me sob by myself. They understood we were on hallowed ground. There were busloads of aussie visitors who spoke in hushed tones as if we were in church. There's no way we can thank enough, the men and women who went to war for freedom.
What a great song, what a remarkable man, what a moving film! Just stumbled across it, luckily. I saw Eric Bogle in concert in Germany in the late 70s / early 80s, and was immediately impressed by this gentle and thoughtful singer and songwriter.
This is what should be taught about war. The horror, the losses, the pain, the shattered bodies, and the short peaces before it goes all over again, and again and again and again....
It all gets a bit depressing seeing war after war. All we can do is refuse to take part, refuse to support those who are war mongers and go after those who take us into wars based on lies, false information and deceit. I would support criminal charges being brought against Blair and his cabinet (under collective responsibility) who gave the go ahead for war based on misinformation. People die and their families suffer but the war mongers get given gongs and live off state backed big pensions that are larger than the average salary. We need to change things!
If everyone stood up and said NO. NO you sort it out. There would be none of this. Millions of dads sons millions being ripped apart for nothing. Years later it doesn't matter. Does my head in
The Somme Battle Field is, for me, one of the most painful places on the Western Front. My grandmother’s First Cousin was killed during the Australian 1st Division, the men who had survived Gallipoli, involvement at Poziers on July 23, 1916. His grave was lost during the subsequent battles across this land over the next two years. His name is recorded on the Australian Monument at Villiers Brettonneux. I have been twice to pay my respects. In March 2018 at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, ACT 30 of his descendants gathered for a Last Post Ceremony. It was a very moving evening. RIP Charles.
In common with countless others, both my grandfathers fought in WW1. One continued to hear the guns every night until his death in 1982: the other, who held both the DCM and MM ( with bar) was blinded in one eye by a sniper's bullet . I asked him about his bravery and he told me he wasn't at all brave, just scared of dying.
I agree but as always there is another side to the story. The politics & the reasons are obscure but the outcome is the same. Young boys (& nowadays in these egalitarian times some girls) are sent to be killed (& kill) by the young of another country for reasons that can't be explained except in the propaganda of those that send them.
I'm sure you don't need this anymore, but for anyone on here who doesn't get a handy side-menu with it: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-T_IUhL1rUCM.html
With all due respect, I think your comment and question expresses more about you than it does about Eric Bogle. Considering that Bogle has written some of the most poignant anti-war songs ever composed, I fail the see the importance of whether he has a "great" ego or not.
Vincent, did you really listen here? Did you really listen to the lyrics? I’ve met Eric quite a few time and a he is a very humble man with no ego whatsoever which is quite remarkable considerable his huge talent as a songwriter and as a performer.
As one of the producers who spent time with Eric while we did the filming I can say it was a pleasure spend time with him and his wife. A warm and genuine person who is not afraid to speak his mind. An all round good guy!
Vincent you are a nasty negative man.The beautiful words sang with such passion and feeling has nothing to do with ego and to suggest it’s just about him is so wide off the mark.
