Australian Soldiers Left Their Mark on Egypt
Six Word Photo Story Challenge: Freestyle
Carved names sit alongside ancient hieroglyphics.
I was stunned at the desecration.
Why would anyone do that?
“Aren’t you offended by the carved names?” I asked my guide.
He shook his head, “Carving names isn’t allowed anymore. But those that are there are part of the history. Some of them are from Australian soldiers. Your people.” He nodded at me smiling.
“Some marks were made when they defended this land in World War II. If your soldiers hadn’t come, Egypt might look different today. Maybe more temples would have been destroyed. But their names and that they defended Egypt are part of Egypt’s history now. Many explorers carved their names also. That’s history and cannot be erased.”
It still didn't sit right. But I looked at the names carefully after that. My Pop served in Egypt.
Would I find a G. King somewhere? George King? G.O. King?
Or proof positive — George Oglesby King?
Because surely, while there are many people called George King in the world, how many could boast Oglesby as their middle name?
I saw lots of names. Many were Australian, listing their troop and regiment number.
But I never found my Pop’s name.
My Pop didn’t like to speak much about the war when I was a child. He was always alert during a storm, and if thunder boomed, Pop would say, “Bring the dog inside. It’s a terrible thing to be frightened.”
During Sunday afternoon tea at Aunty Glad’s house, I’d sit reading a book and listening to the chatter. Whenever the word lucky was said, all the menfolk would chuckle. They’d laugh about my Uncle Ebbie, and that time he came face-to-face with a Japanese soldier.
I didn’t really understand either statement until I wrote this fictional piece based on my Uncle Ebbie’s experiences in the war.
Like every other ANZAC Day, I’m thinking about my Pop today.
And about how it is a terrible thing to be frightened.
Sandi Parsons is an award-winning school librarian with over 20 years experience working in educational libraries. She lives with her favorite husband and two problem puppies. She’s grateful for all the soldiers who serve in the name of freedom.
Join Medium today with this referral link and access every Medium story you want to read. Your membership fees directly support Sandi’s writing and the other writers you read.
