H. E. Brett Mason, Ambassador of Australia.
When the politicians fail and the diplomats can’t find an answer and the light of peace is blown out – it is young men like those buried all around us this morning who too often make the ultimate sacrifice.
Young men, such as Pilot Officer Sampson of the RNZAF, who died in May 1943, aged 22 and beside him, Flight Sergeant Speechley of the RAAF, who died in July 1943, aged just 20. Both sought to liberate this beautiful country during the Second World War.
Their deaths are tragic. But the greater tragedy would be to forget.
The scriptures tell us (Ecclesiasticus 44:9) that;
“there are some who have no memorial, who have perished as though they had not lived.”
Well, no soldier is forgotten in Australia or New Zealand. All their names are etched in our memorials and their sacrifice in our hearts.
Just like those two young men – who died in our cause and whom we will never forget.
-Excerpt from the ANZAC Day 2016 speech by
H.E. Dr Brett Mason
ANZAC Day is an important day in the Australian calendar. It commemorates all Australian and New Zealand troops killed in war and also honours returned servicemen and women.
The date of April 25 is the anniversary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs), on the Gallipoli peninsula in 1915. They landed there with the aim to capture the Dardanelles, an important strategic location, from the Turks. As the campaign started at dawn, ANZAC Day commemorations are often held at dawn.
Gallipoli was only one part of the significant contribution and sacrifice ANZACs made in the Great War.
ANZAC Day 2016 was commemorated in The Hague ceremony at Westduin Cemetery. This ceremony was led by Father Sjaak de Boer from the Church of Our Saviour.
With readings given by: H.E. Dr Brett Mason, Ambassador of Australia; H.E. Ms Janet Lowe, Ambassador of New Zealand; H.E. Mr Sadık Arslan, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey; Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Tsamis, Australian Defence Force and Thomas Binns, Australian student.
After the ceremony the attendees moved to the Ambassador’s residence for a gunfire breakfast. So called because of the Gunfire Coffee (coffee with a splash of rum), drank by the soldiers of Gallipoli as a form of Dutch courage.
Lest we forget.
Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives… You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours…You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.
-Quotation from Mustafa Kemal Atatürk 1934
As read by H.E. Mr Sadık Arslan, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey.
Fotography by Carlijn Hermans.
