CORNWALL-AUSTRALIA-L Archives

From: Corinne Thompson <>
Subject: [CORNWALL-AUSTRALIA] ANZAC Day 2009.
Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:17:37 +1000

It is ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand - a national day of
commemoration, named in honour of the ANZACS - the brave men of the
Australian and New Zealand Army Corp who fought and died at Gallipoli.

Ninety-four years has passed since that disastrous landing just
before dawn on the 25th. April 1915 - and with time and the passing
of the last of the original ANZACS - the day has taken on additional
layers of meaning.

Today, we commemorate all Australian service men and women (many of
whom were of Cornish descent) who have died in the various conflicts
throughout our country's short history.

I have just returned from another Dawn Service at The Shrine Of
Remembrance here in Melbourne which I attend each ANZAC Day, not to
glorify war, nor to endorse conflict of any kind - but to honour all
who have served, no matter their nationality, or which side they were
on. To me, you are ALL heroes.

For all ex-servicemen and women, and their descendants, who are
unable to attend a service, here is the Last Post played by a bugler
from the band of The Royal Military College, Duntroon
http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/last_post.htm

"They shall not grow 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."

This is the most quoted verse from "For the Fallen" by a Cornishman,
Laurence Binyon. The full poem is pasted below.

With Deepest Respect ...... Corinne in Melbourne, Australia.


"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 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 not grow 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 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."


Laurence Binyon (1869 - 1943)

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