WHILE time marches on for World War II veterans Charlie Miller OAM and Jack Hopgood, the fragility of age will not stop them honouring their fallen mates.
Mr Miller, 94, and Mr Hopgood, 98, are expected among only a small number of World II veterans who will participate in the Mount Gambier Anzac Day events today.
Australia’s World II veteran generation is fading with figures suggesting there are only 21,000 veterans remaining.
While both veterans can recount the horrors of war, it is their mateship and legacy that embodies the spirit of Anzac
Day.
Up to 4000 people are expected to attend this morning’s poignant Anzac Day dawn service at the city’s war memorial at 6.15am.
Another 2000 people will line Commercial Street in Mount Gambier for the traditional Anzac march at 9.45am and mid-morning service at 10.30am.
Ahead of today’s Anzac Day events, Mr Hopgood and Mr Miller – who are great mates – reflected on what Anzac Day meant to them.
While for most of us war is a terrible chapter of history, for Mr Hopgood it conjures up memories of being held as a prisoner of war (POW) by the Japanese.
Mr Hopgood is reluctant to speak about his war experience, but says it is vital his fallen comrades are never forgotten.
A “pragmatic man” who tried not to dwell on the memories of war, Mr Hopgood said today was one of the most special days on his calendar.
“Anzac Day is a sacred day on the calendar and the whole nation recognises that – and they should,” Mr Hopgood told The Border Watch.
Despite being just two years shy of becoming a centenarian, Mr Hopgood plans to rise at 5am today to attend the dawn service and will also participate in the Anzac Day parade.
Meanwhile, Mr Miller said he had been attending Anzac Day services since he was just three years old given his father was a World War I digger.
“I have been involved all my life,” he explained.
A spitfire pilot during the war, Mr Miller said it was important to remember those who never returned.
“This morning I will go up to the graves of the four airmen at the Lake Terrace Cemetery and it always makes me think their lives were cut off and they have not enjoyed what Jack and I have. They missed out on a wonderful part of their lives,” he said.
“They missed out on their lives for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Mount Gambier Community RSL president Bob Sandow said he was expecting a large crowd, particularly at this morning’s dawn service.
“Based on the number of people who came last year, we are expecting upwards of 4000 people at this morning’s dawn service,” Mr Sandow said.
“At the mid morning service we are expected upwards of 2000 people given it was a public holiday and it is also school holidays.”
Mr Sandow said the dawn service had grown in popularity in recent years.
“The dawn service has really taken over from the mid-morning service. I think this is because it is more symbolic of when the boys hit the beaches. They did not do it mid-morning – they did it in the early morning,” he said.
“When I look across the crowd when the sun lifts and I see thousands of faces surrounding the war memorial, it is something very special.
“Anzac Day remains relevant to people.
“It is not to glorify the dead, it is to honour those who gave us the life we have today. They fought and died for that.”
