THE original Remembrance Day service (or Armistice Day Service as it was originally known) was for those in lost the 1914-1918 war, Bridgetown’s new RSL president, Peter Lamb said as he led this year’s ceremony at the war memorial.

The name was changed so that men and women from the armed forces who lost their lives in any conflict were all remembered at the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month.

He asked that during the one-minute silence, people think about the families and friends of the four Australian soldiers who recently gave their lives on duty in Afghanistan.

As the haunting melody of the Last Post sounded, high school students lowered the three flags, then stood with their heads bowed in respect for those who had paid the ultimate price as they fought for freedom and justice.

The whole of Bridgetown seemed to stop, as the same time as the guns’ roar suddenly ceased in November 1918.

As the bugle sounded again, the flags were raised with pride. A few tears were wiped away as people remembered long lost friends and family.

Past RSL president Les Whiting led the laying of wreaths on behalf of all members of the RSL, followed by the students from Bridgetown Primary School and St Brigid’s Primary School.

It was a simple gesture of thanks to the many who had died to allow them to be born free.

In concluding the service, RSL Padre Phillip Anderson prayed that the lives given in the past had not been given in vain,

“Today we dedicate ourselves to the cause of justice, freedom and peace and we pray for the wisdom and strength to build a better world,” he said.

DONNYBROOK

IT was a sad situation that the “war to end all wars” didn’t end up that way, Donnybrook’s RSL President Damian Dixon said at Donnybrook’s Remembrance Day service last Thursday.

Forty people gathered to observe a minute’s silence at the town’s war memorial.

A short memorial service was then held in All Saints Anglican Church, where a second war memorial — forgotten until a few years ago — is housed.

The second war memorial is built into the pulpit, carved from Donnybrook stone and dedicated “to the Glory of God and the soldiers from the Donnybrook parish”.

The idea for it was first discussed in October of 1921

It was dedicated as a war memorial pulpit on April 12, 1927, with more than 150 people in attendance.