REMEMBERING THE FALLEN

On Friday, November 11, residents living in the United Kingdom and countries around the Commonwealth, including South Africa, will stop for a moment to mark Remembrance Day.

This annual event honours all those who have given their lives for their countries during World War I, World War II and other conflicts.

The tradition was inaugurated by Britain’s King George V in 1919 and marks the date and time at which hostilities ended in Europe in WWI, following the signing of the armistice agreement on the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month.

In South Africa, Remembrance Day commemoration ceremonies are usually held on the nearest Sunday, during which the Last Post is played by a bugler, followed by the observation of a two-minute silence.

In Hilton, the MOTH (Memorable Order of Tin Hats) Atomic Shellhole will be holding a Remembrance Day parade at 11a, on Sunday, November 13 at the Hilton Garden of Remembrance.

Howick’s Lion Shellhole will mark the event with a parade and ceremony at the MOTH Memorial at the at the Presbyterian Church in Main Road, Howick, at 5pm on Sunday, November 13.

The Pietermaritzburg District MOTHs will host a commemorative service on Saturday, November 12 at the Garden of Remembrance in the city centre.

Pupils, staff and old boys from Maritzburg College, meanwhile, will be taking part in a Rememberance Day event at the school on Friday, November 11. It will get underway at 10.40am in front of Clark House.

The commemoration will be preceded by a brief plaque unveiling in the Victoria Hall, starting at 10.25, where College will be honouring three new names to the school’s roll of honour from the South African War (1899-1902).

All are welcome to also attend the earlier ceremony.

Serving soldiers and military veterans are encouraged to wear their medals and uniforms, as appropriate.

“We hope to see you on Remembrance Day as we again pay tribute to the 261 Old Collegians and three College teachers who gave up their lives in past battles and wars,” the school said in a statement.

Please reply to Samantha Paterson at events@ mcollege.co.za if you will be attending.

In the run up to their events on Sunday, the local MOTH Shellholes will also be selling red poppies at venues in Howick in Hilton on Saturday, November 12.

Members of the Atomic Shellhole will be at the Hilton Quarry Spar, while stalwarts from the Lion Shellhole will be at Fairways Pick n Pay, St John's Pick n Pay and Greendale Spar. Please support them.

A red poppy has become the symbol of both Remembrance Day and hope for a peaceful future. The red flowers were chosen because they the battlefields

of the Europe had been made bleak and barren by years of war. The only thing

which seemed able to grow were the bright red Flanders poppies. Their

resilience represented to many the resilience of the human spirit.