Remembrance Day 11th November 2015

ANZA will be placing a wreath at the remembrance day event on Sunday 8th of November at the Durban Cenotaph.


From: Rick Andriés [mailto:rick@durbs.com]
Sent: 03 November 2015 09:25 PM
Subject: Wearing the Poppy

"Fellow Legionnaires & friends of the Legion.
If you’re already doing so, that’s great… but in case not, please may I remind you that, wherever practical, you’re expected to “Wear your Poppy with Pride”, daily at least until Remembrance Day - i.e. Wednesday, November 11th.
Kindly refer to the attached story of the Poppy, which I’m sure you’ll find of some interest.
Thank you.
Regards,
Rick
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM"

HOW ‘THE FLOWER OF FORGETFULNESS’
BECAME ‘THE FLOWER OF REMEMBRANCE’

History relates that out of the land of the white poppy, came Genghis Khan in the wake of the Great Khan’s bloodthirsty warriors, wherever the blood of man was spilled, the seeds of the “flower of forgetfulness” (the opium poppy) budded in full flower.

Now, huge transformation has turned blood red and in the center of each flower was outlined a cross, as though Nature herself was crying in protest at the wanton slaughter during both world wars.  On battlefields which before had been bare wastes, there sprang up the poppy, it’s symbol carpeting the graves of men who died.

Capt John McCrae, a Canadian medical officer, experienced the carnage and destruction of the First World War on the Western Front.  Torn by the misery of war and confronted with the dead and wounded being part of his everyday life as a surgeon, he wrote his celebrated poem “In Flanders Fields”.  This poem bought him fame in and beyond the British Empire.  This poem was written on 3 May 1915 on a slip of paper from his dispatch book:

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

This poem was published by “Punch” anonymously on 8 December 1915.  It was a success and soldiers copied it, quoted it and discussed it in the trenches.  The poem became a source of strength and determination.

Why did this poem have such an impact on soldiers and later military veterans?

ANZA Event for August Rescheduled for 20th September

Go to Future Events Menu for revised status

The  Hangi scheduled for August has been delayed as we are trying to source a way of heating the steel used to cook the food without having a huge fire as in the past.  The event has always had an excellent following and is certainly not cancelled.

Update 5 August 2015 - Late September is  the planned time to get the Hangi scheduled.  The committee is working on a potentially viable method of heating the steel plates used to cook the food.

The original bonfire method is considered dangerous.  As soon as a firm date and details are in place the event will become finalised and published.

79th AGM and Luncheon

From all the feedback received to date the the AGM and luncheon was a great success.

The food was exceptional with a seemingly endless supply of prawns as part of the starter followed by the usual fantastic carvery and deserts.

More images, thanks to Pam and Dave, can be viewed via the "EVENT IMAGES" button.