ANZAC Day Blog Post - Lest we Forget ...

For those of you who are not aware, ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and the ANZAC Day public holiday represents one of the most important occasions in Australian history.

Being a South African, and having lived in Australia for the last four years, I am still overcome  by this wonderful pulling together of a nation in preparation for this day, and the solidarity shown to these brave war heroes.

So, please either take a moment to bow your head in remembrance or join me in reciting this poem by Laurence Binyon, the fourth stanza of which is the most popular and easily recognised - lest we forget ...

For the Fallen - Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

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 a glory that shines upon our tears.

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

Straight of limb, true of eye, 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 at home;

They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;

They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our 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 that 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.