Remembrance Day Speech – Hugh Elbourne
Distinguished guests, veterans, ladies and gentlemen.
I feel honoured to be here today, to share in this important day of reflection and remembrance. At 11.00am on the 11th of November 1918 an armistice was signed between Germany and the Allies, ending World War One.
Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day, as it is now generally called, originally commemorated the end of World War One, especially those who had died. It was
particularly observed to remember soldiers who had no known grave.
After World War Two Remembrance Day became a day to commemorate all war dead.
In 1997 the then Governor General, Sir William Deane urged Australians to “remember the sacrifice of those who died or otherwise suffered in Australia’s cause in wars and war-like conflicts”.
Between 1900 and 1902, 600 Australian soldiers died in the Boer War in South Africa.
During the First World War 60,000 Australian soldiers were killed, 156,000 wounded or captured.
In the Second World War, thousands more Australian soldiers and nurses served around the world and again, many were killed, wounded or captured. For the first time
in modern history, huge numbers of civilians also became casualties.
Australians have fought in a number of conflicts since – Malaya, Korea, Vietnam, in the Middle East and there are ongoing engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan as we stand here today. Australians and others are again making enormous sacrifices.
At my school, All Saints’ College, there is a daily reminder of the contribution of former students listed on Honour Boards in the dining room where I have lunch. These include the Boer War and wars since. They also list the names of those killed in war. I can’t help thinking that they must have been just like me when they were twelve, and maybe only a few years older than that when they paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country in some faraway battle.
Charles Bean, Australia’s official historian of the First World War, was born in Bathurst and educated at All Saints’ College. In the middle of conflict he observed that there was still good to be found. To quote him “The big thing in the war for Australia was the discovery of the character of Australian men. It was character which rushed the hills at Gallipoli and held on there.” I would say it was character that drove Charles Bean to be there to see it at first hand.
I have relatives who fought on both sides of both World Wars. My great great grandfather fought against the Russians in World War One, then served an anti-aircraft gun in Hamburg in World War Two. His daughter pushed my Grandma into bomb shelters at night to avoid the air-raids.
On the other side, my great great great uncle served in the muddy trenches of France against the Germans in the First War, my great great uncle was a commando fighting
against the Japanese in the Second War, and was last seen swimming off alone, in the dark, to scout out an island to Australia’s north.
All of these people sacrificed themselves for their nations.
My relatives, like all other soldiers and their families, experienced the hardships of war, but also appreciated the importance of what they were doing.
However, it does not really matter if it’s a German, Australian or Japanese bullet, they all hurt the same.
I think that Remembrance Day should not be a day to focus on one point of view. We should remember and appreciate all the suffering and sacrifice of all the soldiers, nurses and civilians on all sides in all wars. If we do not, then we risk making the mistake of going to war too easily. There is enough suffering in the world already, without wars too. So please remember.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak today.