Armistice Day

At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month it is customary to mourn the passing of those who gave their lives that our country remained free from oppression and foreign rule. On Remembrance Sunday a ceremony is held at the Cenotaph during which wreaths of poppies are laid by our Monarch and members of her family, political leaders, ambassadors and others; that ceremony followed by a march past of veterans and representatives of various groups.

Perhaps what should be mourned by the people is their disregard for the beliefs for which those they remember fought, namely this nation's independence and freedom. Perhaps what should be mourned by the people is that they have, by their disregard of those beliefs, allowed politicians to undermine everything for which their forefathers fought. Perhaps what should be mourned by the people is their lack of awareness that all of which was so abhorrent to our forefathers is being imposed on them today.

"Recessional" is a poem by Rudyard Kipling, which he composed on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897:

"God of our fathers, known of old—
Lord of our far-flung battle line—
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

The tumult and the shouting dies—
The Captains and the Kings depart—
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

Far-called our navies melt away—
On dune and headland sinks the fire—
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe—
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard—
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding calls not Thee to guard.
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy Mercy on Thy People, Lord!
Amen."

Lest we forget. If present trends continue the people will eventually realise, to their bitter cost, that they did forget.