Page 37 - QARANC Vol 14 No 10 2015

honor to parade at the Menin Gate
Memorial which was opened in
1927. The citizens of Ypres wanted to
express their gratitude towards those
who had given their lives for Belgium’s
freedom. As such, every evening at 20:00,
buglers from the local fire brigade close the
road which passes under the memorial and sound the “Last Post”. Except for the occupation by the Germans in World War II when the daily ceremony was conducted at Brookwood Military Cemetery, in Surrey, England. This ceremony has been carried on uninterrupted since 2 July 1928. One representative from each service Sergeant Kelly Maclean QARANC, Flight Lt Darren Jackson PMRAFNS and MT Paul Kujjero RN were tasked with the wreath laying ceremony. As we paraded under the arches crowded with people from all nationality’s there was a sense of commemoration, sadness and pride as we remembered those fallen during a minute’s silence.
It has been an honor and a privilege to have had this opportunity to visit some of the most exquisite memorials in the world dedicated to the men and women who had given their lives for our freedom and a journey that we most certainly will never forget.
WO2 Beverley Buckley & Sgt Kelly Maclean Emergency Nurses, RCDM
Farewell
to the fallen
As the sun went down on Bastion today, it marked a momentous day in history. The parade stood to attention at the Bastion wall and vigil site to mark the fallen, preparing to say goodbye to those who indeed had given their lives. Eleven years on and many repatriations later, the numbers of soldiers paying respects were significantly dwindled as we stood closer to the wall than ever before. This really marked the near-ending drawdown and withdrawal of soldiers in Afghanistan. The operation forever to be known as Herrick would be no more. But this was not just for the fallen, this was also for the wounded whose numbers are not very often known, but for us, never forgotten.
With the warning of a “rugby tackle” by the GSM for any who dared go down or faint, we had permission to “take a knee” if this became the only option. The sunsets were getting earlier and although the temperature had noticeably dropped, there was the usual warm evening breeze. But as with all previous services, “going down” was inevitable for a given few, following on from the days’ 38 degree working conditions. Nevertheless, we considered ourselves warned.
The padre called the service to order with a poignant number of references which took some of us back to deployments gone by when we had stood furthest back on the parade listening to memories of those who had been through our hospital doors but would never make it home. Those we had touched and fought for but despite all efforts, lost. In those days we had stood at the back
of the large crowd, ready to return to the emergency department at a moments notice in the event that yet another had fallen. But today, with our mission complete, we stood at the front, proudly paying our respects, and honouring those who had fought to keep us safe. A befittingly “physically” close tribute to our comrades. The padre reminded us that of all the days we had spent here, today, on 25 September 2014, we would remember exactly where we stood as the sun set at Camp Bastion. And without a doubt we will never forget. I likened this day to 9/11, when hundreds had lost their lives at the hands of terrorists as the planes went down. It had been the beginning of what today had brought, and like that day and
again today, I would remember. “When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today.” As we repeated these words after the padre, it was indeed an apt end to what had been a conflict that had touched so many in so many different ways. For the less than 2000 who stood shoulder to shoulder today to mark this significant day in history, it was for all who had been through these walls; wounded, fallen, or otherwise. The worn flag was lowered for the last time and the piper played the last post. We saluted our boys and girls. This was us thanking them for the lives they
gave for us, and most of all, remembering them.
Maj Liz Kagoda
THE GAZETTE QARANC 35