Hidden Battlefields – New Guinea
New Guinea ’44
With Smitty’s letters coming close to New Guinea, this wonderful poem seemed to correspond.
I recently came across the following poem in Jungle Warfare – With The Australian Army In The South Pacific (1944) and as I read, its verses struck me as not only timeless, but also somehow relevant to our world today. In it, the author ponders the overgrown state of the tropical jungles he has encountered, and as he observes the shattered palm battlefields he sees the ghosts of those who fought there, and feels the weight of their sacrifice and the obligation it carries – to never again be repeated. His poetry delves into the simple and often primal feelings that drive ordinary men and women feel to serve their countries in times of war, yet yearns for a world where such sacrifice is not necessary.
It was penned during 1944 in New Guinea by Maurice Lindsay Bull, a Victorian soldier with the Australian Army.
Hidden Battlefields – New Guinea
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Posted on October 1, 2016, in Uncategorized, WWII and tagged family history, History, Military, New Guinea, Pacific, Pacific War, Poetry, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 21 Comments.
Pacific Paratrooper 
This poem touch me diep in my he
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Thank you, it did me as well.
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sorry.comment was away before I know..Please put it away.I want to say.
This poem touch my heart and makes me crying
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Thank you. I will delete the other.
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A very very thought provoking poem gp, thanks for posting, they are timeless words and makes me ponder on what I will see when I get around to seeing Vietnam for the second time.
Cheers
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I personally have NO wish to ever see that place again, but God speed to you, Ian. I knew this poem would mean something to you!
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The poem brought tears to my eyes. I cannot understand why our politicians seem determined to throw away what these men gave their lives to protect.
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Isn’t THAT the truth. I believe some of that is the problem that our politicians never bothered to serve themselves – they don’t have a clue, but treat our military as pawns in some obnoxious game.
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Powerful writing, I do think your ‘Hidden Battlefields’ heading is most appropriate for these theatres that have tended to have been thrust into the background by other engagements.
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The men in New Guinea suffered long and hard. They deserved better. I thank you for reading this today.
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A very beautiful poem that speaks volumes. Thank you for reblogging that!
Stay dry, stay safe! Tracking the storm on Weather Underground
https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/atlantic/2016/Hurricane-Matthew
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You are very welcome!
I’m watching the weather maps myself. Today we’re going from pouring rain to scorching sunshine.
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The poem is SO poignant and powerful…and reading it brought streams of tears.
I long for a world where we do not need soldiers, but since that will never be…there are not enough words to express how VERY grateful I am for those who have served, and those who serve today.
Thank you for sharing it with us, GP.
HUGS and Have a happy whee-kend! 🙂
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We share the same sentiments and I thank you for putting them so eloquently.
This weekend is going to be pretty WET from Hurricane Matthew, but south Florida has survived worse! Thanks for the well-wishes.
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I hope Hurricane Matthew will peter out! Stay safe!
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Thanks, it sure is a slow mover – we’ll be alright, maybe without electric by the end of the week, but safe.
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Come to think of it … You are very good at writing poems youreself! 🙂
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Thank you Dina. It was your wonderful picture that created that poem, I couldn’t have created it otherwise.
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Thank you so much for reblogging and making us familiar with this wonderful poem, dear GP Cox.
Hope you are doing fine, have a wonderful weekend,
Dina & co x
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Wünsche dir lieber Freund ein schönes Weekend und alles Liebe von mir Gislinde
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Danke, Gislinde.
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