Lest we forget

Beechworth RSL sub-branch today conducted a moving ANZAC Day dawn service to commemorate the one hundred and eleventh Australian and New Zealand expeditionary force Great War landing at Gallipoli in Türkiye.

At our Town Hall Gardens' cenotaph, before a hushed crowd, the solemn recitation of the traditional dedication, ode and sounding of last post, reveille and New Zealand and Australian anthems were broken only by kookaburras welcoming the sun through the crowns of the gardens' historic trees.

We remember all those who served and lost their lives in this and later wars, including Henry Norman Rothery, killed at Lone Pine in November 1915, and his sister and nurse Elizabeth, who died in Beechworth in June 1918. We also remember those who fought, survived and returned, including ship's fireman Ernest Masenhelder, who enlisted in June 1916, served in France, and is also honoured in Beechworth cemetery.

Thank you to RSL sub-branch president John Eldrid, vice-president Alison Williams and members who maintain this and other important annual commemorations.

Lest we forget.