Lest we forget: A tale for Anzac Day
With Anzac Day looming, our thoughts drift towards the many stories of bravery, of sacrifice and comradeship that rightly deserve to be recounted and remembered.
Soldiers from our town made a significant contribution to both World Wars, as well as other interventions, many making the ultimate sacrifice, losing their lives on foreign soil.
The commemorations taking place to honour their service are entirely appropriate. As a little boy, I remember an aged greatuncle who’d served in France during WWI.
A quiet, gentle man, he’d survived the war, but in a sense it was like he really hadn’t. Family said he was never the same upon returning to New Zealand.
The fact he rarely mentioned wartime experiences, is probably why a standout image is etched in my mind.
He told of mustard gas canisters flying into the trenches, with soldiers who unfortunately did not have gas masks, screaming oaths as the gas burned their lungs.
My uncle’s account of soldiers cursing God, vividly contrasted with those he said cried out for God’s mercy.
A well-known story, that has resonated with me is the story of two brothers, from Ahipara in the far north, Hone and Pita Tahitahi who landed in Gallipoli, April 25, 1915.
Hone was ordered up the cliffs to cut through barbed wire. He was struck in the chest by a bullet from a Turkish defender, above his heart, knocking him backwards and rendering him unconscious.
Upon recovery he realised the bullet’s impact had been restrained by his prayer book in his breast pocket. Still embedded, the bullet point rested under words spoken by Jesus and recorded in the gospel of Matthew 14:27; Kia manawanui. Ko ahau tenei, kaua e uruwehi; (Be of good cheer. It is I. Be not afraid)
The brothers were evacuated from Gallipoli and Hone was later badly wounded on the Western Front and sent home. Before leaving he mailed the prayer book to the London Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
Back home the family thought the tale was a good one. In 1986 the prayer book came into the hands of Governor General, Sir Paul Reeves, with the bullet still embedded in the pages.
Inside are inscriptions from Hone Tahitahi as well as an officer and chaplain verifying his remarkable escape. Hone discovered God’s ‘‘Word’’ in a literal sense had saved his life.
Over the years, the Bible has brought comfort, assurance and an eternal perspective to countless lives at points of adversity and extremity. Particularly in times of war. Speaking figuratively, for us to become acquainted with the relevance of the Bible’s truth to our lives today, can also make the difference between life and death, just as it did for Hone, literally.
Murray Smith is Senior Pastor of Bridges Church Cambridge.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Cambridge Edition welcomes letters and opinion articles for its Conversations page. Letters must be about 200 words and opinion articles about 400 words. Please send your contributions, clearly marked ‘‘Conversations’’ to: lawrence.gullery@stuff.co.nz