Lest We Forget – 2010; and Lest I forget 1960-2010

Two events in the last little while – one ephemerally significant and one eternally so.

A Birthday

I woke on the 19th and had aged one mere day and an apparent huge milestone.

50

Meh – didn't feel any older, any different, any poorer or richer, certainly not any more enlightened as a human being. Clearly I am missing something!

Then, I thought of some people I'd known, had been friends with, had shared with. People who hadn't turned 50, and never would, and others who had far exceeded that, but were no longer.

So now I feel a little richer, a little luckier, a little more enlightened...

ANZAC Day - 25th April 2010

ANZAC Day once again. And once again I march in memory of my grandfather Jim Seiver, who fought in World War 2 as a member of the 2/11 A.I.F Battalion in Crete, and who passed away Feb 2007.

Mum and I picked up Des, one of Jim's great friends through many years, and assembled with the remaining diggers from the 2/11th. It is always nice to see them as they mingle with each other for the pre-march chat, sharing a joke and a handshake. They are all in their late eighties/early nineties now, and sometimes don't see each other except for this time now.

It is a very whimsical and melancholy time in some ways – to see their joy with each other, but also to be reminded of their fragility fills me with both happiness and circumspection. It reminds me that there will come a day when there will be no-one from the 2/11 here to march, and the last people other than my immediate family who knew and called my grandfather friend will be no longer.

I don't like to reflect on it, but it's hard not to. Still, I think of these remaining men, and of my grandfather and friends passed, and I am grateful that I knew them and knew of them. My 50 years thus are the better for them.

As in previous years, the weather was perfect – cool, blue skies and little wind. The crowds were similarly wonderful – numbers seem to swell and the sense is genuine: there is little evidence of the creeping faux-patriotism evident at some other days of national celebration.

So, again for 2010...

LEST WE FORGET.

Ride safe!

Lest We Forget - 2009

ANZAC Day - 25th April 2009

ANZAC Day is upon us again. A day filled with great pride and tinged with sadness for me – I march in memory of my grandfather Jim Seiver, who fought in World War 2 as a member of the 2/11 A.I.F Battalion in Crete, and who passed away in February 2007.

Mum and I caught up with the remaining diggers from the 2/11th (sadly the numbers had dropped since the past march) for a pre-march chat and general swan around on the march route before the official parade commenced at 9:30 am. Took a little while for the preceding elements to go through, but then we were on the move, and the old fellas did splendidly over the km or so of the route.

Weather was excellent – slightly cloudy, mild and no wind – and the crowds were wonderful; large, appreciative and happy. Towards the end of the march we spied my brother and nephew in the crowd and said a quick hello. The little dude seemed to really enjoy the experience, so I hope it's something he continues to want to come to.

Couple of piccies from the day below:



The 2/11th diggers and mum, and the Battalion banner.




Mum and Des in front of the banner. Des is a great fella – excellent sense of humour and a real character.

So, once again...

LEST WE FORGET.

Ride safe!

Lest We Forget

ANZAC Day, 25th April 2008

Woke today to a beautiful, clear blue-skied morning: such a lovely feeling on this important day.

Dressed in my best trousers and plain shirt, put on my grandfather's old watch, pinned a replica of his service medals to my chest (right side for those not the actual owners of the medals), knotted his battalion tie round my neck, and drove over to pick up my mum for the annual ANZAC day parade through the streets of Perth.

It was a special ANZAC day this year - it would be the first time I had marched in the parade. My grandfather Ronald Alfred Seiver (step-grandfather technically, but to me he was always just grandad or 'Jim' later on in my life) passed away on February 8th 2007, and that year my mother Marian had marched for the first time in his place. She did so with heavy heart and many tears - he had not been gone long.

This year it was different - although I think of him often (his much loved casual hat sits on my speaker in my living room in ready view) it is not most often the sad thoughts of early last year, but more frequently the joyful ones. Jim had lived 87 years, unlike many of his peers and mates who joined the 2/11th (City of Perth) Australian Infantry Battalion in late 1939 - so he, and ourselves, were lucky in that regard.

After a quick drive into North Perth and the car parked, Mum and I walked to St Georges Terrace, moving down the gathered formations until we came across the 2/11th Banner. The small cluster of the remaining members were already there - at least those who could make the walk. A few needed the assistance of the initial vehicle parade and they were already on the move.

Time to take a few photos of the boys - see one below - and then we were off on the march:

Link to larger photo

I'm not sure how long it took to traverse the route - I sort of got lost in the moment. A lot of people cheering and clapping, shouts of thanks ringing out from the crowd, little kids waving the flag - it was all a bit of a blur. I do remember marching behind the old diggers of the 2/11th, feeling a quiet pride that I was with them on this, one of the dwindling number of their remaining marches.

So, to all those from the 2/11th, and to all diggers past and present, our heartfelt thanks, and a promise that:

WE WILL NEVER FORGET

And to you Private Ronald Alfred (Jim) Seiver, WX989, 2/11 Infantry Battalion 6 Division:

I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER.

Link to large Certificate