“A Day to remember” - ANZAC Day
A day to remember. Today, with our sisters and brothers in New Zealand, we take time to remember the ANZACs who lost their lives at Gallipoli 105 years ago, and all those who have died and served in the armed forces before and since those fateful days: in Vietnam, Korea, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere. Today, for the first time in more than a century, there will be no large gatherings, either side of the Tasman, but countless thousands will still be marking ANZAC day from their homes, remembering the young men and women who have given their lives in battle.
One of the St Peterites we remember at this time of year is a young private, Noel Edward Bechervaise, who died with so many others at the landing on Gallipoli, about midday on Sunday 25th April 1915. At the tender age of 21 he had joined the 6th Battalion, F Company, and on 19th October 1914 he and his company embarked from Melbourne, on board the requisitioned New Zealand Shipping Company vessel, HMAT Hororata.
Born in Geelong, and educated at Geelong Grammar School, Noel was studying at University in Melbourne when he enlisted. His record notes several generations of service in the armed forces: his great-grandfather commanded a private ship-of-war during the Napoleonic Wars; his grandfather served in the Crimean War; his father served in the Ashanti War (1873-4) with the Naval Force on the West African Coast. The army record also notes his occupation as “theology student.” Clearly a keen church-goer, the small memorial plaque on the wall of St Peter’s church reads:
“near this spot worshipped Noel Edward Bechervaise.” No doubt, prior to enlistment, his fledgeling call to the priesthood, was being carefully nurtured by then Vicar of St Peter’s, Canon E. S. Hughes.
Private Bechervaise was just one of an allied force of half a million men, all of whom we remember today. They were deployed in what the generals expected to be a relatively straight forward three-day job. The campaign ended up taking eight months, and resulted the deaths of 8,709 Australians and 2,721 New Zealanders. The death toll at Gallipoli, on both sides of the conflict, was more than 113,000 men, with an estimated 350,000 casualties in total.
As St Peterites, since 1924, we have made our acts of rememberance each year on St Peter’s Place, by the Wayside Cross, where we began our Mass today. Just last year, the Day before Remembrance Day, a large crowd of parishioners and invited guests gathered there with the Lord Mayor, the Ambassador of France in Australia, and former Governor General of Australia, Bishop Peter Hollingworth. Dr Hollingworth drew our proceedings to a close with a prayer, which I would like to pray in closing today:
Visit, O blessed Lord, this Place with the gladness of your presence; bless all who will gather, rest and work here. Bless the coffee caravan, the management, staff, volunteers, and all who will come here each day for refreshment, rest and friendship.
Grant peace to those who will come before the Wayside Cross; to remember those who have sacrificed their lives in war; to say a prayer for the sick and suffering; to lay their own burdens before the Cross of Christ.
O gracious God, who in your mercy ordained that your Son should suffer death on a cross of shame: We thank you that it has become for us a sign of victory over death, and the banner of our salvation.
We draw strength from the Wayside Cross; may it draw our hearts, and the hearts of all who pass this way, ever more deeply into the compassionate and merciful heart of Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
We will remember them …