April 25th, 2010
Lest We Forget…
The Anzac tradition was established during World War I when the ANZACS landed at Gallipoli in Turkey on 25th April, 1915. This place is now called ANZAC Cove, and there are Dawn services held in Gallipoli each year to commemorate the landing of the ANZACS.
Rosemary was believed to make the memories stronger by the Ancient Greeks, and this idea continues today as people remember those who have died in war. Red Poppies were the first signs of life in northern France and Belgium after World War I, and the poppy has been adopted as a part of the ANZAC tradition, for it shows that the thousands of servicemen and women are not forgotten.
The name “Digger” originated during World War I and is the slang term used for Australian and New Zealand soldiers. The Diggers were especially good at digging tunnels which provided them with shelter from enemy attack.
Another ANZAC tradition is the ANZAC Biscuit, which is made from rolled oats, plain flour, sugar, dessicated coconut, butter, golden syrup, boiling water and bicarbonate of soda. These biscuits were made as a bread substitute for soldiers fighting in hostile conditions, and they kept for a long time. They were very hard, although there are now recipes that make them more palatable and softer on the palate.
The Dawn Service is held at dawn on the 25th April each year, and this has its traditions in routine within the Australian Army even today. The time just before dawn was the time when the enemy was most likely to attack, so the soldiers were woken before dawn so that they could be in position and alert, and this is known as stand-to. It is common for a minute’s silence to be held during these dawn services to reflect on what these brave soldiers did when they fought, and in many cases died for us, and as a sign of respect.
The Last Post is played during the Dawn services to serve as a tribute to the soldiers who so valiantly gave their lives for us.The Ode (in bold below) is the fourth stanza of the poem, “For the Fallen” which was written by Laurence Binyon in 1914 to honour the many British troops who lost their lives on the Western front of World War I.
For the Fallen
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 grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again,
They sit no more at familiar tables of home,
They have no lot in our labour of the daytime,
They sleep beyond England’s foam.
But where our desires and hopes profound,
Felt as 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 stary in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
I am a daughter of the King of Kings, seeking to live a godly life and mirror the love of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
I knew about the red poppies, but I didn’t know about the Diggers. Thank you for sharing all of the information.
Hi Heather,
You’re very welcome! The Diggers are such a vital part of our history, but there are many who forget them in the Anzac day commemorations.
Have a wonderful week,
Love and blessings, Jillian ♥
That poem is so moving isn’t it. Have you ever been to the War Memorial in Canberra – it illustrates the horrors of WWI for our diggers and all other who fought a war that should never have happened (without glorifying). Sadly these conflicts keep on occurring.
Hi Jo,
Yes, the poem is very moving. Sadly, I have never been to the War Memorial in Canberra – maybe one day???
Wars will keep on happening until our Lord Jesus Christ returns, and I do so look forward to that day.
Have a great week,
Love and blessings, Jillian ♥
Only caught this just now. Great post. The poem from which the ode is taken is lovely isn’t it.
Lest we forget,
Hi Ruby,
The poem, “The Fallen” is a wonderful one, but isn’t it interesting that most people have only heard “The Ode”?
Have a wonderful week,
Love and blessings, Jillian ♥