MOTH bikers’ Remembrance Day parade for fallen soldiers
Anthony van Tonder, Garden Route MOTH District adjutant and secretary, MOTH Motorcycle Club:
The Garden Route MOTH Motorcycle Association’s third annual Bikers' Remembrance Day parade took place on Saturday, 11 November, at the cenotaph at the Point in Mossel Bay.
Some of the passersby and spectators must have been curious when we started preparing the Cenotaph, because they asked many questions about "this monument".
I should have warned them it was a "trap", and soon they got a thorough lesson that a Cenotaph is a monument found in most cities and towns, and the names on the Cenotaph are of soldiers from that city or town, who died in conflict or a war, and are buried elsewhere. The Cenotaph is frequented, most especially when commemorating members of official fighting forces, who died in these conflicts or wars.
Every parade is emotional. I always think of those who died or suffered for our freedom and most parades leave me with highlights, questions and memories.
Saturday was no different, and I was left with two "questions".
There was a participant who was visibly upset. The person in question could easily have been a Border War veteran and many thoughts raced through my head, as I wondered if this was some suppressed experience from the Border War that had surfaced during the parade.
Yes, there are many vets who silently carry their burden, because we were taught that cowboys don’t cry.
My second question has since partially been answered after my curiosity was spiked: a young lady wearing, what I suspected was her father’s old army boots, during the wreath laying opportunity, in a formal and dignified manner, ascended the Cenotaph stairs, and laid a cross at the foot of the Cenotaph.
Obviously, I was determined to find out more, but the young lady disappeared before I could make contact.
Bystanders who spoke to her said she was emotional and spoke about the First World War and the war in Ukraine.
I have since learned that the lady was also at the Outeniqua Shellhole, where she sought information on the history of the Battle of Dellville Wood.
Fellow MOTHs assisted her and showed her a book on the Battle of Dellville Wood, written by Ian Uys.
Her great grandfather’s name featured in the book. He fought and was a wounded survivor, who was carried out of the woods at the Battle of Dellville Wood. The book also says that he received a medal.
A Belgian couple, here on holiday, attended. They were well aware of the significance of Remembrance Day commemorations as they often attended such services in their own country.
They asked if they could participate in the parade. It was such an honour. My only regret was that they were not given a symbolic poppy, and perhaps more recognition.
I did thank them for taking time out of their holiday to honour the fallen.
A visiting MOTH and MOTH Motorcycle Association member, John, who was from the East Rand, also participated in the parade.
We thank the MOTH Motorcycle Association, the Mossel Bay Municipality, all the Garden Route motorcyclists, the public and everyone who helped make this another successful parade.