Moths celebrate Remembrance Day

The Botha Shellhole of the Memorable Order of the Tin Hats (Moths) in the city celebrated Remembrance Day with pomp and ceremony on Sunday.
The event kicked off precisely at 11:00 with a spectacular fly-pass by a Hawk LIFT MK120 fighter aircraft from the Air Force Base in Makhado.
The programme included script reading and a message by local Reverend, Wynand van Beek as well as a brief presentation by historian Louis Scott containing some interesting facts about the First World War. A wall of remembrance was unveiled, followed by the presentation of medals to members of the shellhole.
With the Moths on parade, the ‘Last Post’ was sounded, followed by two minutes silence and the sounding of ‘Reveille’.
A highlight of the event was a wreath-laying ceremony with representatives of the South African Police Dog Handlers Veterans, the Parabat Veterans Association, Koevoet, South African Police Coin Unit, Hoërskool Pietersburg, the Voortrekkers and relatives of deceased soldiers, among others.
The South African Defence Force was represented by Brig Genl André Barends, General Officer Commanding of Air Force Base Makhado, who received a citation as a friend of Botha Shellhole.
Barends briefly addressed the guests and said that Remembrance Day, sometimes known informally as Poppy Day, is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November in most countries to recall the end of hostilities of the First World War on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, in accordance with the armistice signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 05:12 and 05:20 that morning. The First World War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919.
The proceedings concluded with the playing of the national anthem and the Moth prayer.

Story: Barry Viljoen