Gunners remember the fallen
Fallen Gunners were honoured at the annual Gunners' Memorial service today.
THE Gunners’ Association Durban Branch held its annual Gunners’ Memorial at Old Fort today, Sunday, 3 September.
Speaking at the service, Chairman of the Gunners’ Association, Durban branch, Clive Wilsworth, said they had gathered a year ago for the memorial service, and had thanked Ken Gillings for his fourty plus years of service to the association, only to hear less than four months later of his death. He also mentioned two other Gunners who had lost their lives.
“It makes us stop and think just how fragile our lives and the lives of our comrades are. We pay homage today to the Gunners of all ranks and persuasions, who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country in various operations,” he said.
Chaplain Dane Elsworth, conducted the religious service, basing his words on Matthew 8:5.
In this reading, a centurion approached Jesus to heal his servant, saying He must only speak the words and his servant would be healed. Jesus saw the great faith of this man, and his servant was healed.
“This service pays tribute to the gunmen who lost their lives in the line of duty, men who gave their lives, their hopes and aspirations for the future were wiped out. We are indebted to them and it is our duty to honour them. Service and duty is costly, sacrificial and demanding. We need to live our lives as if every moment is our last. Hence the centurion in the reading, who was a man of high rank and authority knew he was under a higher authority. We should be soldiers of dignity and integrity, but have compassion, like this centurion. Soldiers should be honourable, astute, unwavering to duty, but care about the country and its citizens,” he said.
Following the playing of the Last Post, the gun salvos and Reveille, wreaths were laid by members of the various military organisations.
