We Will Remember Them

This month in Australia and New Zealand we commemorate ANZAC Day.  A significant and poignant day for our countries that in many respects, through the sacrifice of our men and women, marked our coming of age as nations.

I am not an ANZAC, but I am honoured to have served as an Australian veteran, albeit with the British Army.

There is so much I could say about the courage, commitment and sacrifice displayed by those for over a century who have and do serve their country, who have put themselves in harm’s way for the greater good and a higher purpose, and the broken hearts of the families of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we may continue to walk free and live in peace.

I will leave all that I feel, all that I want to say at this time of reflection, sorrow and gratitude to this beautiful poem, in tribute to all those who have served with honour, have sacrificed and who continue to do so all over the world. 

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children

England mourns for her dead across the sea,

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,

Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill:  Death august and royal

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,

There is music in the midst of desolation

And glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow,

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall not grow old, as we are left to grow old,

Age shall not weary the, nor the years condemn

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

The mingle not with their laughing comrades again,

They sit no more at familiar tables of home,

They have no lot in our about of the daytime,

They sleep beyond England’s foam.

But where our desires and hopes profound,

Felt a a well-spring that is hidden from sight,

To the innermost heart of their own land they are known

As the stars are known to the night.

As the stars shall be bright when we are dust,

Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,

As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,

To the end, to the end, they remain.