- This topic has 2,069 voices and 7 replies.
- Posts
Bomana War Cemetery – Monday April 25, 2005 commencing at 5:30am:
1. 05:15 Official Party Assembles – Ener via top gate
2. 05:20 Catafalque Party to move into position of the Cross of Sacrifice
3. 05:30 Service Commences
4. Hymn: – Abide With MeAbide with me:
Abide with me fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens Lord with me abide
When other helpers fail & comfort flee
Help of the helpless, O abide with me
I need the presence every passinghour
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who like thyself my guide & stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with meHold Thou Thy Cross before my closing eyes
Shine through the goom & point me tothe skies
Heaven's morning breaks & earth vain shadows flee
In life in death, O Lord abide with meSwift to its close ebbs liefe's little day
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change & decay in all around I see
O Thou who changed not, O abide with meI fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless
Ills have no weight, & tears no biterness
Where is death's sting? Where grave they victory
I triumph still if Thou abide with me5. Prologue: H.E.New Zealand High Commissioner
6. Dedication: H.E. Australian High Commissioner
7. Morning Prayer:
8. Address: President Port Moresby RSL Sub-Branch
9. Laying of Wreaths: PNG Government Representative
10. RSL ODE: Mr Richard Terry
11. Last Post
12. Two Minutes Silence
13. Lament "The Flowers of the Forest – CS Piper"
14. Reveille
15. PNG National Anthem
16. Australian National Anthem
17. New Zealand National Anthem
18. Catafalque party dismounts
19. Dawn Service Concludes
20. 07:00 Gunfire Breakfast at the Australian High Commission, Godwit Road, Waigani.Order of Wreath Laying Ceremony:
1. High Commissioner – Australia – Head of Auystralian Defence Staff, PNG
2. High Commissioner -New Zealand
3. High Commissioner – Britain
4. Ambassador – United States of America
5. Ambassador – France
6. High Commissioner – India
7. High Commissioner – Fiji
8. Honorary Consul to the Netherlands
9. Commander PNG Defence Force
10. Commissioner of Police
11. Commander AAP
12. Commissioner of Corrective Services
13. PNG Veterans & Services League
14. Port Moresby RSL
15. Other Organisations or Individuals
anzac4.jpgDedicated to my late Uncle whose family have never forgotten the sacrifice of two sons who left for PNG, one of which never returned home. To an Uncle I never met.
Also to all the other fathers/uncles/brothers that never returned home,
Lest We Forget.
Robert's resting place is in the Lae War Cemetery. Fitting I guess seeing as he fought on the Black Cat Trail which runs from Salamaua to Wau and which is another track in his honour I wish to grow:
mcmillan2.jpgRobert Norman McMillan – died Aitape, Papua New Guinea at the age of 22:
Robert_McMillan.jpgAlso dedicated to my mother's other brother Archie McMillan who returned from the war and fighting here in PNG but who suffered the most horrific nightmares until he died a few years later at an early age.
Archie was tied to a tree to stop him trying to reach his brother when he had been shot. As a teenager I can recall him screaming in the middle of the night, let me go, let me go!
I can still recall him thumping at the walls of the house as he screamed these words. As a scared 14 year old, my grandmother reassured me, it was the affect of the war and that he couldnt help what he was doing as he felt so guilty he did not bring his brother home with him.
My mother was one of 12 children and had a couple of other brothers, but the loss of these two to the war really had an impact on a close family.
I feel for all families whose loved ones are sent off to war! I have two sons of my own and can only imagine what it must have been like, to be a mother and fear a telegram being delivered to your door…..
Archie_McMillan.jpgMessage from Mark Bainbrigge, President, Australian Returned and Services League, Port Moresby Sub Branch.
Lest we forget!
To ALL our riends in Papua New Guinea who have supported the efforts of the RSL in bringing back our veterans to pay their respects to fallen comrades that fought and died here, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
this year the RSL is bringing a numbrer of Australian veterans back for the Anzac Day Dawn Service who will return for the first time. They have fought along the Track, at Buna and Gona, Sanananda and Shaggy Ridge.
They fought and died for freedom, for Australians and Papua New Guineans and willnever be forgotten. It was these men that have helped make our two countries' relationship special and this relationship is also something that shouldnever be forgotten.
Our respective countrymenhave fought and died alongside eachother and endured terrible hardships during 1942 to 1945 and this is what Anzac Day is about – to show respect for all those that died in all battles.
On April 25, 1915, Australian and New Zealanc troops landed at Suvia Bay in Turkey and over thenext months, were decimated by a brave and fierce opposition. Some sayit was themaking of a legend and also the making of a country.
The battles in PNG have always been stuff of lengends but never received the recognitionn of Gallipoli. This is slowly changing and more and more young Australians are realising what was done in this country by so few to stop the enemy from advancing to Port Moresby. This is evident by the increasing numbers of young people trekking the Kokoda Track and making the pilgrimage to Bomana each year.
It is also important to the young people of PNG and I encourage them to learn what part their ancestors played in these campaigns by being part of the ceremonies at Bomana. It is an important part of PNG's history. This day is beyond politics and is one of mutual respect and remembrance. Although solemn, it will embrace the larrikin nature of Australians and our belief in giving everyone a fair go.
In closing, I encourage you to come to Bomana on Monday at 5:30 am and help the spirit of Anzac live on and after the ceremony, walk amongst the gravestones and look at the people that helped defend our two truly great countries.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Lest we forget!
We were honoured in June last year to take Mark Bainbrigge, Richard Terry and other Federal Police and Australian High Commission employees on the Kokoda Trail through some of the worst conditions experienced during any of our 2004 treks. During their time on the trail, this area of PNG had the highest rainfall since 1963. All rivers were flooded and it rained constantly. Full credit must be given to our guides and porters under the leadership of Russell Eroro for not only getting them all home safely, but on deadline!:
P1010512.jpgMark Bainbrigge on the Kokoda Trail June, 2004. When I asked Russell who his favourite trekker was for 2004, he replied Mark. I asked why, to which he replied – he was always the first to cross rivers and to help me show the others that it was ok. He gave everyone confidence and supported me from start to finish. He also cracked jokes and spent time with the boys:
P1010481.JPG
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.