HSIE NEWS

Thursday marked the 103rd anniversary of the signing of the Armistice between the Allied powers and Germany that bought the Great War to an end. At Marian, the College Captains Claudia Torresan and Jayden Skirving conducted a short service over the College P.A. system to commemorate the day. Below is a section from the service: 

At 11 am on 11 November 1918 the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. The allied armies had driven the German invaders back, having inflicted heavy defeats upon them over the preceding four months. In November the Germans called for an armistice (suspension of fighting) in order to secure a peace settlement. They accepted allied terms that amounted to an unconditional surrender.

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month attained a special significance in the post-war years. The moment when hostilities ceased on the Western Front became universally associated with the remembrance of those who had died in the war. This first modern world conflict had brought about the mobilisation of over 70 million people and left between 9 and 13 million dead, perhaps as many as one-third of them with no known grave. The allied nations chose this day and time for the commemoration of their war dead.

Almighty and eternal God, from whose love in Christ we cannot be parted, either by death or life: hear our prayers and thanksgiving for all whom we remember this day; fulfil in them the purpose of your love; and bring us all, with them, to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

 Amen.

Remembrance Day is an important day in our National calendar and it was wonderful that we were able to commemorate the event with a remote twist. I would like to extend my thanks to Claudia and Jayden for their leadership of the service. 

Mr Lyon