On the 25th of April, Australians and New Zealanders all around the world gathered to hold a morning service in remembrance to the ANZAC troops who died during the WW1 landing in Gallipoli, Turkey on 25 April in 1915. During the gunfire ceremony, we remember the brave actions of our countrymen in WW1, as well as more broadly commemorating all those who serve our countries in military and peacekeeping operations around the world.
This year one such ceremony was held in Sri Lanka by the Australian and New Zealand High Commissions, along with representatives from Türkiye, England, Japan, Canada and the USA. During the morning service at the Commonwealth War Graves at Liveramentu Cemetery, I was asked to recite a poem in remembrance to the fallen soldiers in Flanders Fields, Gallipoli, Turkey.
The poem was titled “Flanders Fields” by John McCrae, and went like this:
In Flanders Fields
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.
John McCrae, 1914
Learning Outcomes:
- LO6: Demonstrates work with global values.
- LO7: Demonstrates a consideration of ethical implications.
Featured Image: Photo of cemetery during the Australian High Commissioner’s address (produced by author)
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