Those who
have visited Gallipoli will have noticed there the many cemeteries, markers to
the fallen. These graves have a special
international body that looks after them, the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission, and wherever you find them you will find careful, thoughtful
plantings. Red poppies, of course, and
also rosemary, the herb. Rosemary for remembrance.
I want to
focus in this address, on the 100th anniversary of the landings at
Gallipoli, on the theme of remembrance, encapsulated for ANZAC Day with the
three words “Lest We Forget”
Lest We
Forget – a trio that call on us to bear witness, to always remember, to never
forget.
Lest We
Forget
The 45% of the then adult male population of Aotearoa New Zealand who went to fight in World War I. They were called by what was still then thought of as Home, Mother England, to fight for King and Country on land a very long way away.
The 45% of the then adult male population of Aotearoa New Zealand who went to fight in World War I. They were called by what was still then thought of as Home, Mother England, to fight for King and Country on land a very long way away.
Lest We
Forget
The 13 men from this community who never came home, who we remember this day with the 13 white crosses that bear their names, as part of the national Fields of Remembrance. In 1915, a hundred years ago, Mt Roskill was a small mainly rural community. You can see from the names some families lost several members, and the impact of these thirteen deaths would have been significant – lost brothers, fathers, sons, husbands; lost hopes for those left behind.
The 13 men from this community who never came home, who we remember this day with the 13 white crosses that bear their names, as part of the national Fields of Remembrance. In 1915, a hundred years ago, Mt Roskill was a small mainly rural community. You can see from the names some families lost several members, and the impact of these thirteen deaths would have been significant – lost brothers, fathers, sons, husbands; lost hopes for those left behind.
Lest We
Forget
Those who did come home; the soldiers, the sailors, the airmen, the nurses; the injured, the scarred; those who shared their stories, those who could never talk of it.
Those who did come home; the soldiers, the sailors, the airmen, the nurses; the injured, the scarred; those who shared their stories, those who could never talk of it.
Lest We
Forget
Those from other nations who fought at Gallipoli, hailing from Australia, France, the Pacific Islands and African colonies. There were many Indian troops on the Peninsula, and some of our South Asian community who have more recently migrated to Mt Roskill will have had ancestors who fought with the other commonwealth troops.
Those from other nations who fought at Gallipoli, hailing from Australia, France, the Pacific Islands and African colonies. There were many Indian troops on the Peninsula, and some of our South Asian community who have more recently migrated to Mt Roskill will have had ancestors who fought with the other commonwealth troops.
Lest We
Forget
The Turks, who were fighting on their own land, to defend their own country. More than 80,000 Turks died at Gallipoli.
The Turks, who were fighting on their own land, to defend their own country. More than 80,000 Turks died at Gallipoli.
Lest We
Forget
The spirit of grace and forgiveness that some can find after war.
The spirit of grace and forgiveness that some can find after war.
Lest We
Forget
The 1934 words of Ataturk, Turkey’s first president, carved in stone at ANZAC Cove:
The 1934 words of Ataturk, Turkey’s first president, carved in stone at ANZAC Cove:
“Those
heroes who shed their blood and lost their lives!
You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country.
Therefore rest in peace.
There is no difference between the Johnnies and Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours.
You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace.
After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.”
You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country.
Therefore rest in peace.
There is no difference between the Johnnies and Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours.
You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace.
After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.”
Lest We
Forget
Those who remained at home; the invalids, the Home Guard, the providers of essential services, the women stepping into male roles for the first time, the conscientious objectors, those too young or too old to go. The burden they must have borne, not only in keeping the home fires burning, but also the hope of the post and the dread of the telegram, the sense of uncertainty.
Those who remained at home; the invalids, the Home Guard, the providers of essential services, the women stepping into male roles for the first time, the conscientious objectors, those too young or too old to go. The burden they must have borne, not only in keeping the home fires burning, but also the hope of the post and the dread of the telegram, the sense of uncertainty.
Lest We
Forget
The conflicts before and since; among them the Second World War, the Land Wars, the Boer War, wars in Vietnam, Korea, the Middle East, Afghanistan, and more.
The conflicts before and since; among them the Second World War, the Land Wars, the Boer War, wars in Vietnam, Korea, the Middle East, Afghanistan, and more.
Lest We
Forget
The 50 million people worldwide displaced from their homes by wars and conflict right now, particularly from Syria, Afghanistan, Palestine and Somalia.
The 50 million people worldwide displaced from their homes by wars and conflict right now, particularly from Syria, Afghanistan, Palestine and Somalia.
Lest We
Forget
The people of Mt Roskill who have come here for generations to make a better life, some as refugees from conflicts in their homelands, others in the aftermath of wars that destroyed their homes and livelihoods.
The people of Mt Roskill who have come here for generations to make a better life, some as refugees from conflicts in their homelands, others in the aftermath of wars that destroyed their homes and livelihoods.
Lest We
Forget
The 143
troops New Zealand has sent this week to Iraq.
My 7 yo son, who reads the newspaper, asked "will Daddy have to go to
war?" Followed by “what if war comes
here?”
Lest We
Forget
The horrors of war, the suffering of soldiers and civilians.
The horrors of war, the suffering of soldiers and civilians.
Lest We
Forget
The Gallipoli peninsula as it is today, windswept, unwelcoming. When I visited in 2006 the sense of loss was palpable. It was cold and barren, the impression of trenches still clear, as if the land were so affected by the battles that it had not yet recovered nearly 100 years later. Much as Gallipoli shaped our nation for decades to come.
The Gallipoli peninsula as it is today, windswept, unwelcoming. When I visited in 2006 the sense of loss was palpable. It was cold and barren, the impression of trenches still clear, as if the land were so affected by the battles that it had not yet recovered nearly 100 years later. Much as Gallipoli shaped our nation for decades to come.
Lest We
Forget.
