commemoration service 12.20pm sunday 25 may 2014 shrine of remembrance, melbourne ... · 2018. 3....
TRANSCRIPT
Boer War
Day 2014 Commemoration Service
12.20pm Sunday 25 May 2014
Shrine of Remembrance,
Melbourne
Programme Souvenir
In 2014 we especially celebrate the
Defence and Relief of Mafeking
and the service of the
Australian Bushmen
SOUTH AFRICA 1899 - 1902
The Victorian Committee of the Association welcomes you all here to honour the
memory of those Australians who served our country in South Africa between 1899
and 1902 and especially the nearly one thousand who paid the supreme sacrifice. We
are honoured to have a number of distinguished guests here today:
The Hon Nick Wakeling MP. Minister for Higher Education & Skills,
Representing the Premier of Victoria
Mr Sandro Cardinali, Director, Rehab. & Compensation, Department
of Veterans Affairs. Representing the Assistant Commissioner
LTCOL Laureen Grimes, Veterans Council, Dept. of Premier & Cabinet
Representing the Chairman
MAJGEN Iain Spence, CSC, RFD, Head, Cadet, Res. & Emp. Support
MAJGEN James E Barry, AM, MBE, RFD, ED
Immediate Past President, Defence Reserves Association
Ms Susan Blake, Shrine Trustee
Dr Michael Lawriwsky, Shrine Trustee
AIRCDRE Christine Tolson, Senior ADF Officer, Victoria
MAJ George Logan, Vice President, RSL Victoria
MAJ Maggie Moore, RFD Representing Shrine Trustees
COL John Coulson OAM RFD ED, Chairman, Victorian Committee,
Battle for Australia Council, Shrine Governor
LTCOL Neil Smith AM, Master of Ceremonies
Mr Brian Smith, Radio & TV Announcer
Rev Kevin Dobson, Chaplain for Service
BRIG Neale Bavington, RFD, ED, Reserve Forces Day Council
CDRE Peter Habersberger, AM, RFD, RANR (Rtd)
BRIG Peter D. Alkemade, RFD ,ADC, President, DRA Victoria
The Hon Michael Baden-Powell
The Hon Wendy Baden-Powell
Ms Nicole Strachan, State Commissioner, Scouts Victoria
Ms Lynne Emblin, A/g State Commissioner, Girl Guides, Victoria
LTCOL Graham Lockwood, RFD, ED
BOER WAR DAY 2014
ORDER OF SERVICE
12.20pm Order of march from the lower end of the Shrine forecourt
Mounted Infantry (Creswick Light Horse)
Rats of Tobruk Pipe Band
Boer War Banner
BWM Association & Distinguished Guests
SASA Banner
Descendants of Boer War Veterans, Supporters
Cadets, Scouts and Guides
The march will proceed to the Eternal Flame where the service will be held.
Master of Ceremonies: Lieutenant Colonel Neil Smith, AM
Welcome: The Honourable Michael Baden-Powell
“We welcome all descendants of our Boer War soldiers and nurses, their families and
members of the public who wish to commemorate this day. We are gathered to honour
their service and all it has meant to Australia and especially to remember those who
paid the supreme sacrifice.’
Messages … His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC
Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia
read by Mr Brian Smith
Victorian Government - The Hon Nick Wakeling MP
General David Hurley AC DSC
Chief of the Defence Force - read by Mr Brian Smith Lord Mayor, City of Melbourne
COMMEMORATION ADDRESS
Major General Iain G. Spence CSC RFD
Royal Hymn…… God Save Our Gracious Queen
The Lord’s Prayer…...Reverend Kevin Dobson
Band Piece ‘Return to Tobruk’ Rats of Tobruk Pipe Band
Wreath Laying……(Those with wreaths to lay will be called up)
The Ode…… Major George Logan, Vice President RSL Victoria
‘They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning.’
Response ‘We will remember them’
The Last Post (one minutes silence)
Response ‘Lest we forget’
Rouse
Closing Prayer Reverend Kevin Dobson
Australian National Anthem
“Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free.
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil, our home is girth by sea.
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts, of beauty rich and rare.
In history’s page let every stage, Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia Fair.”
Cannon Salute * * * (Three gun salute from a Boer War cannon)
Announcements by Master of Ceremonies
CLOSE OF SERVICE
Extracts from letters home to Australia
from Mafeking Defence & Relief Forces read by
Mr Brian Smith
Mounted Troopers in this event are from the
CRESWICK
LIGHT HORSE
During the whole period of the siege of Mafeking from 14 October 1899 to 17 May 1900 the
MAFEKING
THE SIEGE AND RELIEF
British Empire and the World followed the
tense situation in their daily newspapers.
Mafeking had captured the attention and
emotion as no other military situation had
quite done before or since.
The defenders were well outnumbered by the
investing Boer forces. Perhaps they could
have been overrun if the Boers had shown the
same determination as the defenders but for-
tunately, they did not.
Colonel Robert Baden-Powell, commanding
the defenders had shown great skill in keep-
ing up the morale of the military and the
towns people during the long months of the
siege, and before the war in preparing for just
such an eventuality.
During most of the siege Colonel Plumer had
been operating from the north to assist the de-
fenders and if possible to relieve the town.
After many months his column was able to
join up with a column from the south com-
manded by Colonel Mahon and they drove
off the investing Boers.
The news that the
siege had ended
caused the most ex-
traordinary public
outburst of rejoicing
and celebration in
London and around
the British Empire
which continued day
and night for some
days, It even coined a
new phrase, ‘to maf-
fick’, in the English
Language.
Colonel Robert Baden-Powell
Crowds in Picadilly ‘Mafficking’ after reading that Mafeking had been relieved on
17 May 1900
Southern Column only
Colonel Baden-Powell and his officers in Mafeking
The National Boer War Memorial Association
is grateful to the Veterans’ Council, Victorian
Department of Premier and Cabinet and the
Federal Department of Veterans Affairs for
assisting with funding for this event.
Proposed National Boer War Memorial
Creswick Light Horse
We are grateful for the interest and
support of:
SHRINE OF REMEMBRANCE
CRESWICK LIGHT HORSE
RATS OF TOBRUK MEMORIAL
PIPES AND DRUMS
AUSTRALIAN GREAT WAR
ASSOCIATION
HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENT
SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA
SCOUTS VICTORIA
GUIDES VICTORIA
SALVATION ARMY