Letter Of Appreciation from Ms Victoria Saunders
To whom it may concern,
I’d like to thank you for all the support you have provided me through my studies and for my involved in the Pozieres trip in 2016. It was honestly an extraordinary experience. I hope you all received my thanks and saw the photos I asked my sponsor to pass through t
o you all. As it is the New Year I thought I’d reflect on the support those that have offered to me and show my gratitude.
In the beginning I held no reservations and knew this would be a tour I’d remember, I didn’t understand I would carry those emotions and lessons knowing I want to help others know. I want the next generation to understand it’s significance and I thank Legacy Australia for this journey.
I’d like to share with you all now a powerful diary entry from my trip and hope you all understand the learning, and emotions this journey allowed me to experience
‘To me, Bullecourt was where all the greats were – the most iconic battle due to the introduction of tanks and many other tactics that were being newly utilised at the time. I did read the ending to this battle, but they were just words on the paper. They couldn’t express the experience of truly being there. I was giddy, of sorts, to see this place where Jacka had been at his peak in the battle. I knew of his heroism, yet most historians will not highly praise his presence in this location enough. Upon arriving, the weather was cold. It was raining as seen in most cliché movies. The words soon become a reality when you see this battleground. It was another wave of emotions for me, I prided myself in knowing so much about this battle and how many soldiers had lost their lives and what was done strategically. I was in over my head, our tour guide, infused with the rain, forced me to make those words a reality. I couldn’t hold my emotions for long and I mourned for those I didn’t know, which I didn’t think could happen as the ground we stood on unfolded the story of great defeat.’
I have enclosed some photos of my trip, to help you all visualize where your support went. I saw so many things that I am eternally grateful for. Thank you all so much and I am sending you all my well wishes in the New Year. Once again so sorry for how late this is, for I thought it was all sent through with my other correspondents.
Kind Regards, Victoria Saunders
