Lithgow was momentarily roused by the voices of residents singing The Recessional’s ‘Lest we Forget!’ during the Anzac Day 11am service organised by the Lithgow City RSL Sub-Branch.
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Local birds were also roused when Richmond RAAF treated Lithgow’s gathering in Queen Elizabeth Park to a spectacular low-level flyover by a Caribou.
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A new Anzac day tradition, very particular to Lithow, was the inclusion of armored tanks in the march that have stayed in town after the close of Ironfest on Sunday, April 23.
While the grandiosity of war’s machinery bolstered Lithgow’s commemorations, Reverand Matt Trounce reflected upon Anzac Day’s message of peace.
“May younger generations find better ways to resolve international tensions,” he said.
“Because we want to be part of something much bigger than a day to make a long weekend, here we take time to stop, remember, give thanks and find peace.”
Many among the crowd had family and friends to remember.
“This means everything to us,” Jenny Brown said.
“My father used to march and we would come and watch the men, and now we remember them.”
Her daughter, Emma Brown, traveled from Orange to commemorate her grandfather’s service.
“I’ve been to this every year since I was born,” she said.
Tony Ang served in East Timor. He could not put his feelings about Anzac Day into words.
“It’s hard to explain,” he said.
“It was a very good service.”
Mr Ang and his wife Vanetta both come from families with long histories of military service.
“Our fathers were both in World War II and all mum’s brothers went,” Mrs Ang said.
“My son is a lieutenant based in Canberra and my grandson wants to join the army. We’ll see.”
Reg Williams and Leo Keeley, aged 92, both served in New Guinea during World War II.
“We just went in 1943 mainly transporting troops between New Guinea and the mainland,” Mr Williams said.
“It was a long while ago.”
Gary Johnson delivered a speech about his grandfather Alfred Johnson’s participation in the famous charge of Beersheba by the Fourth Light Horse Brigade that occurred 100 hundred years ago on October 31, 1917.
“As they charged, they could hear the bullets whistling past them. The machine guns were on them,” Mr Johnson said.
“He sat as close as he could to his horse’s neck to try to protect himself.”
Alfred went on to keep waler horses, the same breed of stockhorse as the mount that had carried him into battle in Beersheba
Mr Johnson, who also served in the Navy, arranged a war horse to be present at the Anzac Day service to commemorate his grandfather and the horses of the Beersheba charge.
“Only one of 600 horses made it back to Australia. They made the ultimate sacrifice for king and country.”
“I say, lest we forget the horses.”