Remembrance Day, or Poppy Day, is observed annually on 11 November or the nearest Sunday to that date.
It started as a silent remembrance for those who died for their country as a result of the First World War – approximately 8 634 300 soldiers and 6 million direct civilian deaths. The world-wide ‘Two Minutes Silence’ has its roots in South Africa. The first minute remembers the fallen in war, and the second minute is in gratitude for those who survived.
After the Second World War the observance embraced silent remembrance for all those who died in conflict since the First World War. It acknowledges the 12 452 South African casualties suffered in the First World War, the 38 208 casualties suffered in the Second World War, and the 34 pilots killed in the Korean War. Many war graves to South Africans lie far from home, in Namibia, in France and Belgium, in Tanzania, Ethiopia, the Middle East, Italy, Korea and elsewhere. Closer to home, we should remember the many South Africans who died in the conflicts on our borders and in the Liberation Struggle of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Scouts played a key role on the home front in both World Wars – From supporting the coast guard and acting as bicycle messengers to bringing the harvest, they stepped up and played their part during the 1914-1918 conflict. This special contribution was recognised by Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, when he said: ‘It is no small matter to be proud of, that [Scouts] were able within a month of the outbreak of war to give the most energy and intelligent help in all kinds of service.’ There were numerous former Scouts who served and died in the armed forces, and it’s these, and all others who served in conflicts of over 100 years, that we remember.
The observance of 11 November is not about celebrating any victory, nor about boasting about achievements in conflict, nor glorifying war. It is about showing respect for those who were willing to serve their country and, if need be, to make the ultimate sacrifice so that we who are here now can have the life that we know.
As Scouts, I believe we must take this moment to reflect on these sacrifices in order to strive to avoid such devastation and create a better world.
As the soldier’s prayer states,
“And when you go home tell them of us and say
For your tomorrow we gave our today
Our gift was great, but you must now give a greater gift
We died. Now you must nobly live
To complete the plan
And make man brother unto man.”
In conclusion, the Remembrance Prayer:
“They shall not grow old
As we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them
Nor the years condemn them
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM”
Important note of credit: I copied extensively (and give all the credit) from the following two sources –
– Why we remember | Blog | Scouts
Neil O’Brien
Regional Commissioner
Eastern Cape South
SCOUTS South Africa