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