Remembrance

[Ian Adrian Millar]

REMEMBRANCE

Today we pause in memory.
To remember those who served at sea.
They manned the ships from shore to shore,
Delivered goods in time of war.

They crossed the oceans day and night,
And lost their lives in mortal fight.
Eternal Father strong to save,
Remember those who rode the wave.

They left behind their loved ones dear,
They met the foe both far and near.
Survival chances slight or slim,
Amid the roar of battle's din.

There were all sorts among the crew,
Some were strangers, some we knew.
The chips were down, times were forlorn,
Thank the Lord these men were born.

Remember those who sailed away,
Who gave their lives for our today.
Who gave their lives without regret,
Lest We Forget, Lest We Forget.

Ian Adrian Millar

[j.sabourn]

I went to a Rememberence Service this morning to coincide with the eleventh hour of the eleventh day , and with being on a retired servicemen’s village there were plenty of ribbons or medals in evidence . To be in accordance with the mood of the day ,I put my 3 which incidentally really is 5 as one has 2 bars on. One lady asked if they were foreign gongs, to which I was able to say the two outside ones are British and the middle one Australian , she said you were in the Merchant Navy then ? I said yes , but, I am a veteran of her Majesty’s Armed Forces , pointing to the free merchant navy badge giving out free a few years ago and still claimable . Sometimes is easier to explain than going into a long rigmarole . Australia usually puts a good show on on these days , and today was no different , it was carried out with proper respect , and was pleased the last post was played by a naval person ,in fact he was one of our group of ancient mariners . JS

[Ian Adrian Millar]

Allow me to thank you for you service and of course I am pleased to see the Merchant Navy remembered with all those who served and gave so much during times of conflict. With all the negative things we are hearing of Australia of late over the covid mess I was wondering how parades and recognition would go. I have a personal place in my heart and memory for Australia/New Zealand and their people for we were treated better in Australia than in any other country that we visited. I still have the silver lapel MN badge that my father wore and too his other medals awarded. I have a small display with his awards and the MN badge from his cap which he wore when his ship was sunk during the war (39-45).

[Fouro]

Reading thro' #2 I said to myself, out of the awards John is wearing, the cheapest one to make, his Merchant Navy Veterans Lapel Badge and the wording contained on it, was worth its weight in gold when he drew that ladie's attention to it.

Regards from
Fouro.

[Dennis McGuckin]

Just getting ready to go to the service.
It will be held indoors due to covid.
Only having a few invited guests.
Thankfully the MN were not forgotten.
We shall remember them.
Den.

[Denis O'Shea]

Not being able to go on parade these days my observance was following the event on the TV and getting on my feet for the 2 minutes silence, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM. Den

[Dennis McGuckin]

At the laying of the wreaths, the MN was called third.
Some years back, we were almost last, behind the Salvation Army.
We have come a long way.Indoor wreathes..jpg

[happy daze john in oz]

There were the usual services here in Oz for remembrance day but with reduced numbers.
Due to the Virus there are still some restrictions in place.
But observations made show that more would have been there but for this.

The Shrine in Melbourne under normal circumstances has thousands there.

[j.sabourn]

#3. Ian I am not really a medal person , but as presented by my peers is. Only right they should be shown at the right occasions , there are only two a year for me and that was yesterday and the next one will be Anzac Day so rather than stow them away again and have to look for them will leave them out available for the second of the two a year event. Your fathers medals will mean more to you than probably they would of to him but he would of worn them also probably for those who by their deaths were unable to do so. They should be kept in your family circle to remember him by and what they represent. They are a strong link between you and your father. Cheers JS

[Ian Adrian Millar]

Your comment on his medals meaning more to me than to my Dad strikes home as he was not much for wearing medals and his opinion was that it did not matter that much. When I hold my father's medals and service items I do feel a positive connection with him. There was a point near the end of his days that both he and I were at sea at the same time although many miles apart and the letters that we shared mean a great deal. I expect most people would have considered him to be a very tough and uncaring type, but he was far from that and always concerned about his family and their well being. I expect that quite often medals do not mean as much to those who won them although there is a deep seated pride in a job well done. I wonder how many readers can remember how people framed their loved ones service awards and had them hanging on the wall. I can recall when visiting my Canadian and British kin that most of them had Grand-dads 1914-18 medals on display and more so if they were killed and had what they called a soldiers death penny, which was a circular bronze plaque. Do not see much of that anymore but I think part of that is because we no longer teach the younger generations about the great sacrifice and loss.