Boer War

Day 2014 Commemoration Service

12.20pm Sunday 25 May 2014

Shrine of Remembrance,

Melbourne

Programme Souvenir

In 2014 we especially celebrate the

Defence and Relief of Mafeking

and the service of the

Australian Bushmen

SOUTH AFRICA 1899 - 1902

The Victorian Committee of the Association welcomes you all here to honour the

memory of those Australians who served our country in South Africa between 1899

and 1902 and especially the nearly one thousand who paid the supreme sacrifice. We

are honoured to have a number of distinguished guests here today:

The Hon Nick Wakeling MP. Minister for Higher Education & Skills,

Representing the Premier of Victoria

Mr Sandro Cardinali, Director, Rehab. & Compensation, Department

of Veterans Affairs. Representing the Assistant Commissioner

LTCOL Laureen Grimes, Veterans Council, Dept. of Premier & Cabinet

Representing the Chairman

MAJGEN Iain Spence, CSC, RFD, Head, Cadet, Res. & Emp. Support

MAJGEN James E Barry, AM, MBE, RFD, ED

Immediate Past President, Defence Reserves Association

Ms Susan Blake, Shrine Trustee

Dr Michael Lawriwsky, Shrine Trustee

AIRCDRE Christine Tolson, Senior ADF Officer, Victoria

MAJ George Logan, Vice President, RSL Victoria

MAJ Maggie Moore, RFD Representing Shrine Trustees

COL John Coulson OAM RFD ED, Chairman, Victorian Committee,

Battle for Australia Council, Shrine Governor

LTCOL Neil Smith AM, Master of Ceremonies

Mr Brian Smith, Radio & TV Announcer

Rev Kevin Dobson, Chaplain for Service

BRIG Neale Bavington, RFD, ED, Reserve Forces Day Council

CDRE Peter Habersberger, AM, RFD, RANR (Rtd)

BRIG Peter D. Alkemade, RFD ,ADC, President, DRA Victoria

The Hon Michael Baden-Powell

The Hon Wendy Baden-Powell

Ms Nicole Strachan, State Commissioner, Scouts Victoria

Ms Lynne Emblin, A/g State Commissioner, Girl Guides, Victoria

LTCOL Graham Lockwood, RFD, ED

BOER WAR DAY 2014

ORDER OF SERVICE

12.20pm Order of march from the lower end of the Shrine forecourt

Mounted Infantry (Creswick Light Horse)

Rats of Tobruk Pipe Band

Boer War Banner

BWM Association & Distinguished Guests

SASA Banner

Descendants of Boer War Veterans, Supporters

Cadets, Scouts and Guides

The march will proceed to the Eternal Flame where the service will be held.

Master of Ceremonies: Lieutenant Colonel Neil Smith, AM

Welcome: The Honourable Michael Baden-Powell

“We welcome all descendants of our Boer War soldiers and nurses, their families and

members of the public who wish to commemorate this day. We are gathered to honour

their service and all it has meant to Australia and especially to remember those who

paid the supreme sacrifice.’

Messages … His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC

Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia

read by Mr Brian Smith

Victorian Government - The Hon Nick Wakeling MP

General David Hurley AC DSC

Chief of the Defence Force - read by Mr Brian Smith Lord Mayor, City of Melbourne

COMMEMORATION ADDRESS

Major General Iain G. Spence CSC RFD

Royal Hymn…… God Save Our Gracious Queen

The Lord’s Prayer…...Reverend Kevin Dobson

Band Piece ‘Return to Tobruk’ Rats of Tobruk Pipe Band

Wreath Laying……(Those with wreaths to lay will be called up)

The Ode…… Major George Logan, Vice President RSL Victoria

‘They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning.’

Response ‘We will remember them’

The Last Post (one minutes silence)

Response ‘Lest we forget’

Rouse

Closing Prayer Reverend Kevin Dobson

Australian National Anthem

“Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free.

We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil, our home is girth by sea.

Our land abounds in nature’s gifts, of beauty rich and rare.

In history’s page let every stage, Advance Australia Fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia Fair.”

Cannon Salute * * * (Three gun salute from a Boer War cannon)

Announcements by Master of Ceremonies

CLOSE OF SERVICE

Extracts from letters home to Australia

from Mafeking Defence & Relief Forces read by

Mr Brian Smith

Mounted Troopers in this event are from the

CRESWICK

LIGHT HORSE

During the whole period of the siege of Mafeking from 14 October 1899 to 17 May 1900 the

MAFEKING

THE SIEGE AND RELIEF

British Empire and the World followed the

tense situation in their daily newspapers.

Mafeking had captured the attention and

emotion as no other military situation had

quite done before or since.

The defenders were well outnumbered by the

investing Boer forces. Perhaps they could

have been overrun if the Boers had shown the

same determination as the defenders but for-

tunately, they did not.

Colonel Robert Baden-Powell, commanding

the defenders had shown great skill in keep-

ing up the morale of the military and the

towns people during the long months of the

siege, and before the war in preparing for just

such an eventuality.

During most of the siege Colonel Plumer had

been operating from the north to assist the de-

fenders and if possible to relieve the town.

After many months his column was able to

join up with a column from the south com-

manded by Colonel Mahon and they drove

off the investing Boers.

The news that the

siege had ended

caused the most ex-

traordinary public

outburst of rejoicing

and celebration in

London and around

the British Empire

which continued day

and night for some

days, It even coined a

new phrase, ‘to maf-

fick’, in the English

Language.

Colonel Robert Baden-Powell

Crowds in Picadilly ‘Mafficking’ after reading that Mafeking had been relieved on

17 May 1900

Southern Column only

Colonel Baden-Powell and his officers in Mafeking

The National Boer War Memorial Association

is grateful to the Veterans’ Council, Victorian

Department of Premier and Cabinet and the

Federal Department of Veterans Affairs for

assisting with funding for this event.

Proposed National Boer War Memorial

Creswick Light Horse

We are grateful for the interest and

support of:

SHRINE OF REMEMBRANCE

CRESWICK LIGHT HORSE

RATS OF TOBRUK MEMORIAL

PIPES AND DRUMS

AUSTRALIAN GREAT WAR

ASSOCIATION

HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENT

SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA

SCOUTS VICTORIA

GUIDES VICTORIA

SALVATION ARMY