A Measureless Sacrifice

They were young. They marched, completely unaware;

            Fathers, brothers, sons.

They knew nought of the horrors that would face them there,

            In Flanders. Gallipoli. The Somme.

They faced their foe, saw sunsets and dawns,

            Heard ricocheting bullets, saw myriads of shells.

They faced desolation, sorrows, tears,

            And unfathomable terror as their comrades fell.

Their blood was spilled across the battlefields,

            Soaking into the trampled terrain.

While loved ones across the sea hoped and wept,

            Far away from those desolate plains.

The battle seemed endless; men fought and men fell, 

As around, countless gunshots rang out.

They were tired, but fought, bravely pressing on;

            Their perseverance true and devout.

They fought to the end, those who remained,

            Until the long-awaited day when armistice was declared.

Every soldier, every fighter, every helper, a hero,

            Even those left wounded, or dead.

Today in those fields, in crimson red,

            Thousands of poppies now grow.

And there alongside them, white, and grave,

            Countless crosses stand, row upon row.

We will tell the story to each generation

Of the measureless sacrifice,

And forever, we will honour with gratitude

            The ones who paid the price.

We must never forget those who gave their lives, 

            Lest it happen again and again.

So, with our heads held high, we will remember,

            And forever, they will remain. 

Lest we forget.

These are the reasons we commemorate Anzac Day. This is a day where we, as Australians, remember those who served and those who gave their lives in war. Anzac Day is a day of national remembrance, not a day of celebration. We don’t say “Happy Anzac Day”. We say “Lest We Forget”.

I saw the sun rising this morning. As it rose, I was reminded that our freedom was brought to us by their sacrifice. Our sunrise was brought to us by their hellish dawn. Our lives have been given to us by their deaths.
Always respect, and always remember.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.
Lest we forget.

Poem: “A Measureless Sacrifice” – by Julie Priebbenow (2019)