Recommended by Joyce Yee

An account of an ISG member’s attendance of a Dawn Service in the Buttes New British Cemetery, Flanders. 

'The day was long and the ceremonies numerous, but some scenes will always remain etched in our memories ..... 

As we stumbled wearily from our bus after an incredible 3.30am start from Brussels, trying not to fall into ditches in the dark in our groggy state and squeezing gingerly past mammoth buses parked end-to-end in the small country lane, a fairytale sight stopped us dead in our tracks. In the distance, motionless figures of soldiers were outlined in the sky, flanking a tall monument rising from the centre of a ridge. 

On the ground, alleyways were delineated by glowing candles in saucers, safely guiding our steps in the darkness towards the ceremonial area below the ridge. 

The moving speeches, the eerie silences, the beautiful music, the rising sun... all succeeded in making this moment an outstanding success. Yes, the memory of these young men from countries so far away and their supreme sacrifice in the name of peace should never be forgotten. 

Anzac Day on April 25th each year is the time Australians and New Zealanders commemorate the participation of their soldiers in all wars.' 

More information: https://www.toerismewesthoek.be/en/buttes-new-british-cemetery  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Passchendaele

Image credit: Airman 1st Class Emily Kenney, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons