tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440764593580848794.post145411969503753901..comments2024-01-05T10:46:06.674-06:00Comments on Scott D. Parker: Writer: "They Were Expendable" Movie ReviewScott D. Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15293540073601809197noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440764593580848794.post-90387882980917986692009-08-12T15:59:09.797-05:002009-08-12T15:59:09.797-05:00There's a song by the now defunct Aussie horn ...There's a song by the now defunct Aussie horn band, Hunters & Collectors that captures a similar tale and sentiment.<br /><br />The song <i>What's a Few Men</i> tells the story of the Battle of Galipoli in WWI. It's based on a tale recounted by the late Aussie WWI veteran, A.B. Facey in his intriguing autobiography, <i>A Fortunate Life</i> (an excellent read in its own right-- it was made into a 6+ hour Aussie miniseries in recent years). <br /><br />There were so many dead left on the battlefield on both the Ottoman-Turk side and the Aussie side in the hot tropical Turkish sun that the bodies started to decay and stink. One of the English Colonels leading the Aussies ordered some of the infantry to go clean up the dead despite the likelihood that they would get mowed down by the Ottoman-Turks causing even more casualties and bloodshed. To the protests the English Colonel responded simply, "What's a Few Men?"<br /><br />The song doesn't get into this, but I read up a little on that battle and learned a cease-fire was called so both sides could clean up and bury their dead before the fighting resumed.<br /><br />The Mel Gibson film, <i>Galipoli</i> also gets into that incident. <br /><br />On a side-note I just wanted to say-- the more I read your blog the more I feel like I've found a long lost brother-- our tastes in music are similar, we both read comic books and prefer DC over Marvel, and as I read your posts on history-- well I have a B.A. in History... It's uncanny. As time allows I intend to explore more of your blog.Perplexiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09971805688658949769noreply@blogger.com