REMEMBRANCE Day is expected to attract hundreds of people to the Soldiers Memorial in the Vansittart Gardens on Sunday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armistice to end World War I.
At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, the Armistice ending World War I came into effect and the fighting on the Western Front stopped.
After more than four years of battle, 60,000 Australian men had been killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed or taken prisoner.
On Sunday, the public will gather at the Soldiers Memorial in the Vansittart Gardens at 10.30am to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War I and each battle since.
Mount Gambier RSL president Bob Sandow expects a strong crowd to attend the emotional service.
“It looks like it’s going to be a nice day on Sunday and we already have nine schools participating with wreaths, so we expect numbers to be up on last year given the significance,” Mr Sandow said.
“There is potential for this year to be a little more emotional than other services because people’s minds will reflect back on the passing of their grandfathers or great grandfathers.”
Following the traditional proceedings, a special award will be presented to three local Vietnam veterans from the Battle of Coral-Balmoral.
The battle is remembered for the courage of Australian soldiers who fought desperately as hundreds of troops from the 7th Division of the North Vietnamese Army hammered their positions.
Member for Barker Tony Pasin will present the Unit Citation for Gallantry to each of the veterans involved in the battle.
“The battle went for over a month and 29 Australians were killed in this battle while a further 109 were injured, so these three people lost a lot of mates,” Mr Sandow said.
“This is something we will probably never see again in Mount Gambier – it is an opportunity to say thanks to them.”
A particularly special moment of the day will occur at 4.30pm (11am in France) when the RSL Blue Lake Highland Pipe Band plays “The Battle’s O’er” outside the Mount Gambier Community RSL.
A piper will also perform the piece at the Centenary Tower overlooking the Valley Lake precinct, where the Legend of the Lakes Hillclimb will take place.
The tune is being played simultaneously in every town and country to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
“This has never happened before and it is something you really need to be there for so that you can say you were part of it,” Mr Sandow said.
“We are pretty lucky to have the local pipe band to be able to play that out the front of the RSL, so we encourage people to come down.”
The RSL will also be hosting a breakfast at 8.30am and the public is welcome back for lunch following the 10.30am service.
