Remembrance Day

Thank you Alana Hodzic, Emily Miers, Dennis Yeo, Daniel Holland and Tom Cannane along with organiser Mr. Macfie for their impressive contributions Remembrance Day assembly on Monday 12 November 2018 commemorating the one hundredth anniversary since the guns fell silent on the Western front and the subsequent impacts of that moment. Please see two of the speeches printed below with the other two submitted for publication in the Fortian 2018. Also, a special thanks to Alexander Epps for his Last Post, the Wind Ensemble and conductor Mr Manchester for their jubilant piece All Pleasant Things (composer James Barnes).

Origins of Remembrance Day

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918, the guns on the Western Front fell silent. The most destructive war the modern world had seen was over, and countries around the world celebrated.

Sunday marked a significant milestone in Australia’s military history, the commemoration of the centenary of the Armistice that ended the fighting of World War I. On that day, 100 years ago, the Germans signed the armistice agreement, leading to their unconditional surrender. The armistice dictated the end of four years of world war that cost one million lives, including 62,000 Australians. The loss, devastation and tragedy of the World War I remains with us 100 years after it came to an end.

On Remembrance Day, we pause and reflect not just on World War I, but we remember the service and sacrifice of all Australians who have fought for us in every war. In this final year of the Anzac Centenary, Australians pay tribute to those who served in the War and all who have served and died for Australia with honour in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

The first two-minute silence was held in Britain on the 11th of November 1919, when King George V asked the public to observe a silence and halting of activities at 11am, to mark the passing of a year since the end of World War I. He made the request so that ‘the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead.’

The silence was proposed by Australian journalist Edward Honey, who wrote to the London Evening News to suggest a moment’s silence for the fallen. At about the same time, a South African statesman made a similar proposal to the British Cabinet, which was endorsed by the Royal Family, and adopted.

Since then, the minute of silence has been practised in many countries throughout the world and has extended to include a more holistic approach, to commemorate all wars since then, and all those affected rather than just the fallen. One of the most distinguishing features of Remembrance Day commemorations is the Last Post and Reveille. While the Reveille traditionally signals the start of a soldier’s day, the Last Post signals its end.

John Howard stated in his Remembrance Day speech in 1997, ‘I hope that in schools and in workplaces, in cities and in the bush, Australians will stop, just for a moment, to consider what was lost to us. And to recognise what was granted to us by the exercise of such moral courage.’

I ask of you to do the same throughout this assembly. Take the time today to reflect upon war, and consider what was and continues to be lost through war.

We gather today to commemorate those who returned home, many with broken limbs, minds and spirits. To remember the families who have lost loved ones in whole or in part. And to think of those who continue to serve.

We know that many who return don’t leave those battlefields behind. They bring the battles home with them, but they carry them inside.

Too often these internal battles against depression, anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and suicide are fought and lost alone. In just this year alone, more military personnel and veterans have died by their own hand – on Australian soil – than lost their lives during 13 years of Australia’s involvement in the Afghanistan conflict.

But let us also remember our obligations to those who served. For those who return from conflicts with broken bodies and minds we must commit ourselves as a nation in giving support that ensures their return to Australia is a happy, worthwhile and lasting experience.

Today we stop to mark 100 years since the end of the Great War.

Today, for the 100th time, we pause to remember the service and sacrifice of more than 62,000 Australians who never returned.

Today we remember the countless more Australians whose lives were changed forever by war. It is only on the back of their legacy that we enjoy peace.

Lest we forget.

Written by Emily Miers and Alana Hodzic
Spoken by Alana Hodzic

Remembrance Day Speech

Sunday November the 11th was Remembrance Day. 100 years ago, was the day which World War I ended. It ended a bloody conflict which had cost 9 million soldiers’ lives, 10 million civilian lives and 21 million injuries.

One of these casualties was James Charles Martin. He was an Australian soldier who served as a private in the World War I. Like others around him he was one of the many soldiers who fought and died in war for Australia, our way of life, and for the peaceful society in which we live in.

Often, soldiers like him would have to reside in horrible living conditions hunkered down my enemy fire only to be met by disease-carrying rats and lice. But it got worse though, if it rained trenches would often flood and the food was atrocious. Most times it was canned beef with the ANZAC tile, a hard biscuit which is best described in the name tile. If they didn’t mind the food there was always a constant fear of getting deadly diseases like influenza, typhoid, trench foot or trench fever. Above all it can be easy to forget that bombs, bullets, grenades and toxic gases from the enemy could also kill to.

After all this what if I were to tell you that James Charles Martin was in fact not a young man who died in war but a young boy who died in war, a young 14-year-old boy whom would not be older than many of the year 7s and 8s at this school. At the outbreak of the war James signed up after his father was rejected as being too old. Despite the fact that his father signed up he and his wife both did not want him to sign up. But, eventually they would cave into his pressure and allow him to enlist. Like many others James lied about his age to get in and after signing up was sent to Victoria to train and then Egypt. Later in the year he was deployed to Gallipoli where he would fight bravely for the country. Unfortunately, he would later die here because of heart failure due to typhoid disease. He was given a burial at sea where he lay to rest.

But I think that out of all this that there is something unique about Australians and that is our ability to look and to take something good out of something so bad. Out of all the blood, loss and suffering like forging metal in furnace those soldiers made something which previously wouldn’t have even been possible. And that is the ANZAC spirit. You know they say that hardship and suffering brings out the best in people and I think that the courage and valour which James Charles Martin showed in the face of terror is something which is truly awe-inspiring and moving. The fact that he signed up seemingly to replace or to represent his father is a testament to the fact that these boys and men were some of the bravest to have ever lived. What they did is something which I will never forget and something which I hope you will never forget.

Dennis Yeo