Remembrance for the fallen in war

People will gather in Victoria Square on Wednesday to mark Remembrance Day, 102 years after the guns fell silent at the end of World War I.

Every year, at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, servicemen and women who have served in all wars are commemorated.

Busselton RSL president Glenn Woodward said it was a day on which to reflect upon those who had fought in the war and those who never returned home.

“It was the war to end all wars, but history has proved that it wasn’t,” he said.

Established in 1916, Busselton RSL is recorded as one of the oldest groups in the State.

The group exists today to provide assistance and care for serving and ex-serving members of the Australian Defence Force, and their dependants.

“In this day and age, with the mental health issues that many people have, especially young veterans, we provide help and assistance and talk to them and get them to specialists to try to help them and get them back on the right track,” Mr Woodward said.

Mr Woodward is a Vietnam War veteran and said each Remembrance Day, he reflected on the friends he had lost to wars.

“In WWI, there was a very high death rate, and of course many of those who came back struggled for many years after,” he said.

“It’s a remembrance of our friends and the wars.

“There’s no such thing as a pretty war.

“You lose people. I’ve lost many friends, and now we reflect and remember them.

“It’s lovely to see these days the public and the younger people really embracing the freedom we have today from what happened many years ago.”

Remembrance Day will be observed at 10.45am in Victoria Park on Wednesday.

People are encouraged to place a wreath during the service.