It’s the 100th Poppy Day

Adjutant Bill Frost of the Memorable Order of the Tin Hats, writes:

The Mossel Bay MOTH Blaize Away Shellhole will be hosting a Remembrance Day Parade at the Cenotaph in Mossel Bay.

It takes place at 10:30 this Sunday, 11 November.

There will be a short ceremony followed by two minutes' silence and the church bells ringing. A wreath-laying ceremony will take place then during which members of the public are requested to join in honouring those who “Paid it all”.

The reason and purpose of Remembrance Day

Sadly our people are forgetting what sacrifices were made by our forefathers. It is our duty to keep their memories alive. Our schools no longer honour this worldwide tradition and it's saddening to see.

In South Africa, Remembrance Day is not a public holiday.

Commemoration ceremonies are usually held on the nearest Sunday, on which the Last Post is played by a bugler followed by the observation of a two-minute silence.

Ceremonies to mark the event in South Africa are held at the Cenotaph in Mossel Bay and other major centres, and in Pretoria at the Voortrekker Monument cenotaph and the War Memorial at the Union Buildings.

Sadly, only a few high schools hold Remembrance Day services to honour the past pupils who died in the two World Wars and the Border war.

In addition, the South African Legion of Military Veterans and the MOTH (Memorable Order of Tin Hats) hold street collections on the nearest Saturday to gather funds to assist in welfare work among military veterans.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders Fields.

The Blaize Away Shellhole in Mossel Bay now have their own place and are busy renovating and creating a small military museum for Mossel Bay.

Sadly it is a small building but it is unique. Please watch the press for further details.

If you are interested in joining the MOTH please contact the following:

Blaize Away Shellhole Mossel Bay

Old Bill Moth Mel Wainwright (084 586 1837)

Adjutant Moth Bill Frost (083 376 9911).