4 Field Regiment (SVN) 'Old Boys' Newsletter - January 2010

toward his encampment. When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead. The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army. The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted. The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician. The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted. The haunting melody, we now know as 'The Last Post' used at military funerals was born. The words are: Day is done. Gone the sun. From the lakes From the hills. From the sky. All is well. Safely rest. God is nigh. Fading light dims the sight; And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright, from afar. Drawing nigh, falls the night. Thanks and praise for our days. Neath the sun, neath the stars. Neath the sky as we go. This we know. God is nigh. I too have felt the chills while listening to 'The Last Post' but I have never seen all the words to the song until now. I didn't even know there was more than one verse. I also never knew the story behind the song and I didn't know if you had either so I thought I'd pass it along. I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before. Remember Those Lost and Harmed While Serving Their Country. Also Remember Those Who Have Served and Returned; and for those presently serving in the Armed Forces. By email from Vic Rae, Editor of Gunfire magazine. Thank you for agreeing to participate in the trial of Gunfire by email. Please find attached your copy of GF3/2009. At some stage in the future of this trial I will ask you for some feedback that can be provided to the Executive Committee of the Association relating to your experiences with this method of distribution. Check it out at: http://www.artillerynsw.asn.au/index.htm Various emails from Alan Johnston (Johno). With the assistance of my son Paul, actually he did all the work, we have created a web site that I hope will ultimately contain a comprehensive pictorial record of our tour to Vietnam Feb 70 to Feb 71. You can log onto www.106secondtour.org To view my progress to date. I need your assistance to help make it as comprehensive as possible. I also want to include a comprehensive contacts list, just phone no and or email addresses of as many blokes as possible. As we all reach retirement age the opportunity to travel will increase and many of us may wish to take the chance provided by such travel to rekindle friendships forged or strengthened in Vietnam. I hope as many blokes as possible will take the time to look at their old slides etc and contribute to the ongoing development of the site. IF HOWEVER YOU WOULD PREFER NOT TO BE IDENTIFIED OR INCLUDED IN ANYWAY, PLEASE CONTACT ME AND I WILL DELETE ANY REFERENCE TO YOU FROM THE SITE. I have decided to concentrate my hunt for new contacts into small groups. Can anyone help with a phone number or email address for the following blokes. I hope after a discussion about the site and the book I will