Rain fell persistently, adding to the sombre air as veterans, soldiers, politicians and others paid their respects to the nation's fallen, and the Last Post rang out mournfully across a sodden city.

Executive Mayor Amos Masondo leads the procession into Beyers Naude Square

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LOWERS are used for happy times, like weddings, but also for sad times, like funerals. The funeral that was commemorated on the weekend was for the deaths of many soldiers, and was held around the world on 9 November - it was Remembrance Sunday.

On this grey Sunday afternoon in Beyers Naude Square there were hundreds of flowers - in many wreaths that were placed around the cenotaph, by soldiers and those representing soldiers, who saluted the tall structure, as a small gesture to those who died for the freedom of nations in the two world wars, and the fight for democracy in South Africa.

But the most significant flowers were the red paper poppies that had been scattered around the base of the cenotaph, and pinned on to spectators' collars and lapels, in respect for the dead. The red poppy was the first flower that bloomed in the churned-up battlefields of Flanders, where many men lost their lives in muddy trenches of Europe, in WW1.

Remembrance Sunday was acknowledged in Soweto the day before, with a Freedom Parade through the streets of Orlando West.

Sunday afternoon began with the march past of regiments, to the plaintive wail of bagpipes, coming up Harrison Street. The most moving regiment marching past the City Hall was that of WW2 veterans, several of whom walked in a laboured way and one of whom walked with a very bent back. Others walked with straight shoulders, marching proudly. Medals tinkled against one another, as they lay in crowded rows on chests.

Each regiment saluted Executive Mayor Amos Masondo, who looked solemnly ahead with his hand on his heart.

Forgotten Soldiers

Veterans who proudly represented their country in WW2

The sound of marching boots was interspersed with shouted commands, left-right, left-right, yelled out to the regiments by their commanders. For the first time veterans on motorbikes, known as the Forgotten Soldiers, joined the parade.

Towards the end of the march past the police band came up the street, playing a strangely jaunty tune.

The cenotaph was surrounded by large white marquees and rows of white plastic chairs. Masondo opened the proceedings by welcoming everyone.

"This occasion provides us with a unique opportunity to honour those who have paid the supreme sacrifice in defence of freedom and liberty - but also to rededicate ourselves to the new struggles that we are engaged in."

Masondo said that 12 452 South African servicemen died in WW1; some 3 901 were Africans, Indians and coloureds. He also paid tribute to members of the South African Police Service, and Johannesburg's metropolitan police department and emergency management services who have died while on duty.

"I can think of no better way to remember the sacrifices made by our soldiers than to unite in the battle to create a better Johannesburg, a better Gauteng and a better South Africa. I trust that this day and this ceremony will inspire us to achieve more in our quest to bring a better life for all our people," he concluded.

Prayer

The march pass (Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)

The Reverend Dr Mongezi Guma took the podium and said a prayer, followed by Chaplain Fredaline Manganye, who read from Micah four, verses one to five. "For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever." 

A community choir followed the prayers, singing Oh God, our help in ages past - and some rickety voices revealed how old some of the members were. Speaker of the council Nkele Ntingane then read Judges seven, verses four to eight.

Guma again took the podium, calling all to "bow our heads in thanksgiving for their lives and in remembrance of their sacrifice".

"Let's first remember the 90th anniversary of the end of WW1, and look back over the years and ask ourselves since that momentous day what makes men and women settle their differences in war."

Armistice Day, the day WW1 ended, was on 11 November 1918, and Remembrance is commemorated each year on the nearest Sunday to that date.

This year a special tribute was paid to the Cape Corps, which had participated in the Battle of Square Hill, in the Middle East, against Turkish forces loyal to Germany, 90 years ago. Some 51 men were killed in the battle, with 101 wounded.

They held their ground despite heavy artillery and machine gun fire, and returned to Cape Town with 16 Distinguished Conduct Medals, eight Military Medals, two Order of the Crown of Italy (bronze), two Decoration Militaire (Belgium) and one Medaille Militaire (France).

"Despite all actions to discourage them, they were sent to the battle front," said Guma. "Despite danger to themselves, it was a moment to stand up for their nation, it was the gallantry of their training."

He concluded by saying: "Our freedom should make us servants of one another. We pray today for the souls that died for us. We thank you God."

The audience stood and sang Oh God, our help in ages past; and while everyone was still standing, the Last Post was played solemnly by a single bugle player, conjuring up images of soldiers dying on lonely fields and in trenches, far away from their loved ones.

A two-minute silence was observed. Then the bugle's call was heard again in the Reveille, the morning call to soldiers to wake up.

Wreaths
It was time to lay the wreaths. The clouds opened gently and a fine drizzle settled on soldiers' uniforms and headgear. Flags were dropped to half mast. The lonely strains of The Lord is my shepherd sounded over the square, followed by Amazing grace.

The mayor started the procedure, solemnly placing his wreath at the foot of the cenotaph, then briefly bowing. One by one the regimental heads moved forward, took their colourful wreaths, and laid them at the foot of the cenotaph, saluting the monument after placing them.

The British high commissioner laid a wreath of poppies. He was followed by the Canadian high commissioner, and the council-general of France. The chief of the defence force stepped forward, followed by the chief of the army, and the chief of the navy. Representatives from India, Belgium, Gabon, the US and Argentina followed.

They stepped forward, laying more and more flowers at the base of the cenotaph, while the rain fell gently on the wreaths.

Once all the wreaths had been laid, the audience was invited to take a single white rose each from two large bunches near the cenotaph and lay them with the wreaths, in memory of their lost ones. The bunches were soon depleted.

The crowd remained standing, and sang the national anthem. The mayoral procession took their leave and the afternoon was over. The rain had stopped.

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