When Marines of the US Marines 1st Division ship out to a war zone, the music they ship out to is:
'Waltzing Matilda'.
Every camp they set up is named 'Matilda'.
Their blue patch has the numeral 1 in red, and the white stars of the Southern Cross.
Cool.
And, I suppose the band plays Waltzing Matilda when the legless, the armless, the blind and insane return and get carried down the gangway. But nobody cheers, they just stand.
and stare, or turn their faces away.
People have learnt a lot since WW1.
1943, after Guadalcanal, the Marines, ...weary, wounded, worn out, no supplies, were evacuated to Brisbane.
Brisbane is built on a flood plain. When the Marines arrived the only place there was for them was swamp and shacks.
Their general said they had to be moved, US Navy said no ships.
Melbourne offered to take them, their general made it happen.
Marines were housed in a newly built hospital and it is said the people of Melb opened their homes to the Marines.
In winter Aussie troops gave them their coats.
The design was adopted by their navy or whatever.
The Marines had a parade thru Melb ...and their band played Waltzjng Matilda. The crowds went wild with appreciation.
And so the 1st Division adopted Waltzing Matilda and the stars of the Southern Cross.
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