OUDTSHOORN NEWS - The Halfaya Pass Shellhole in Oudtshoorn commemorated the Day of Remembrance on Monday 11 November with a Trench Lunch for members.
Every Shellhole in the M.O.T.H order individually or collectively, performs some befitting act of remembrance on the 11th of November each year. The members of Halfaya Pass decided to lay wreaths at the club's remembrance wall concluding the day's event with a trench lunch and a toast to absent comrades.
The Day of Remembrance
Armistice to end what was known as the Great War (1914 - 1918), also referred to by some as 'The war to end all wars', was signed in the early hours of 11 November 1918. All firing then ceased on the 11th hour of that day. All the countries of the British Commonwealth then decided to commemorate the end of this war by holding yearly memorial services at 11:00 on the 11th day of the 11th month.
This day became known as Armistice Day, observed worldwide.
After the end of the Second World War (1939 - 1945) it was decided to now commemorate the end of all wars. To determine a single date that was convenient for all countries a decision was made to hold memorial services annually on the Sunday nearest to 11 November. This Sunday became known as Remembrance Sunday. Those who later fell and suffered during the war in Korea and in later conflicts are now also remembered at these memorial services.
Why is the poppy a symbol of Remembrance Day?
Red poppy flowers represent consolation, remembrance and death. Poppies are used as a symbol around the world to remember those who died in military service. After the Napoleonic wars in the early 19th century, the land was destroyed as it was left desolate, arid and infertile. Shortly after, red poppy flowers magically grew around the bodies of the fallen soldiers. Poppies then became a symbol of hope and peace with an underlying meaning that the sacrifice of soldier’s lives was for the greater good. Again in 1914, the fields of Northern France broke out in fighting as World War 1 began. Once the world war was over, one of the only plants to regrow was red poppy flowers.
Today, the remembrance poppy has become one of the world’s most recognised memorial symbols for fallen soldiers. Even a century after World War 1 ended, people continue to use the red poppy flower as a symbol of remembrance. Millions of people worldwide from the United Kingdom to Canada to New Zealand wear the flower on 11 November to commemorate the anniversary of the 1918 armistice, also known as Remembrance Day or Armistice Day.
Who is the M.O.T.H.S?
The Memorable Order of Tin Hats (M.O.T.H.) was founded in 1927 by Charles Evenden as a brotherhood of South African former front-line soldiers. The idea is to help comrades in need, financially or physically; and to remember all servicemen who have answered the Sunset Call, both in war and peacetime.
The three M.O.T.H ideals are true comradeship (by practicing front-line friendship in civilian life), mutual help (by acknowledging the personal and collective obligation to help each other as in front-line service) and sound memory (by remembering the fallen as a living companionship and to serve their memory in practical actions
which rise above divisions of social status, race, or politics). To protect and advance the interests of war veterans and their kin by carrying out benevolent activities of an ex-service character.
‘Ons bring jou die nuutste Tuinroete, Hessequa, Karoo nuus’
