Lest We Forget

Hi there and welcome to Van Life Devotions. In March 2024 Leisl and I visited Gallipoli in Turkey. For as long as I remember I wanted to come to this sacred place where so many Australians lost their lives in a failed campaigned.

Members of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) landed at Gallipoli, at what became known as Anzac Cove, on the 25th of April 1915. 60,000 Australians served at Gallipoli. Some 8,700 Australians lost their lives and around 18,000 were wounded during the eight-month campaign.

One of those men was Frank Maltby, Leisl’s great uncle. The 18th Battalion landed on the 22nd of August. That day Frank was killed. He was just 18. Nine months later his brother George was killed in Action at the battle of Bullecourt in France. He was 17.

According to the Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs, “The most successful operation of the campaign was the evacuation which ended on 19–20 December 1915, conducted under a well-planned deception operation.

The events surrounding this echo the cost of freedom fought in all wars that Australia participated in. Major J.W. Hamilton of the 6th Battalion was one man who volunteered to fight for freedom. He was a miner from Queensland who went to Melbourne for training. Just before he landed on these shores, he wrote this letter to his wife.

“... We are on the eve of landing on the Peninsula... I am going to leave this letter with Mr Williams the 3rd Officer who has promised to post it at the first port. Dearie, this may be my last to you. But cheer up and if I fall tomorrow morning, well, I will be one of the many brave fellows who have died trying to do their duty for God and country. We are about to undertake a task which is extremely bad. We are to land in the face of the enemy... Anyhow love, believe me that if I fall I will do so happy in the thought that I have done my duty to you and my country... I have your testament in my hand and as I gaze at our little daughter Boyne, holding the candle and looking at me with her darling little face... Dearest, this is rather a gruesome letter but consider the feelings of your dear old hubby on the eve of going into action... Goodbye love and God bless you and my darling little Boyne. Your loving and true hubby, Jack”.

(The Anzacs, Patsy Adam-Smith, p61).

Major Hamilton died the next morning, aged 28. Sadly, many diaries had several empty pages. A typical diary contained how they were feeling, what has been happening, descriptions of the harsh conditions, then the writing suddenly ceases - and there was no more.

The cost for freedom is found in the many who fought for this country, some never to be returned. Today we remember those who have fought and have died in fighting to keep this nation free. We don’t glorify war but remember those who have died. May we remember the words of Jesus: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends” (John 15:13 NIV).

I find it incredibly moving being here, reflecting on all those lives lost for friends, family, country. Thank you for your sacrifice. Lest we forget.

Prayer: Thank you God for our country, its freedom, for those who have fought and those who have died to keep our country free. We pray for those who today serve in the Australian Defence Force. We pray for peace in our world. Lest We Forget. Amen.

David Moyes