19 or Less

Touring the Arnhem Oosterbeek Cemetery the young age of the servicemen stood out. The reality of war is that you want/need young soldiers to fight. Naivety and a belief that you will live forever are useful on the battlefield.

Unfortunately young soldiers fighting means young soldiers dying.

Aged 18
Aged 19

It is profound to view the graves of 19 year old men, as this was the age I joined the Australian Army and I was twice their age when I took these photos.

Redgum's I Was Only 19 played in my head as I viewed these head stones.