MOSSEL BAY NEWS - More than a century has passed since the end of the First World War, yet the tradition of pausing to remember those lost in conflict is still significant today.
Many South African soldiers have died since 1914, and Remembrance Day ensures their stories are not forgotten.
Each November, as the clock nears the 11th hour, people across the world stand in silence. The tradition of Armistice Day began in 1919 when King George V declared that two minutes of reflection be observed – one minute to honour those who died, and one to give thanks for those who made it home.
In Mossel Bay, residents gather at the war memorial near the Point Hotel to observe this moment of remembrance. The ceremony is led by the Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTHs) of the Blaize Away Shellhole, an organisation of former servicemen and women dedicated to supporting veterans and their families.
The MOTHs’ three guiding ideals – True Comradeship, Mutual Help, and Sound Memory – continue to capture the essence of the day. As wreaths are laid and poppies pinned, uniformed officials, veterans, and community members stand side by side, united by gratitude. For many, it’s a quiet but powerful reminder that freedom often comes at a price carried by ordinary men and women who answered an extraordinary call.
The poppy, inspired by Canadian soldier John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Field”, remains the most recognisable emblem of remembrance.
Growing wild on the battlefields of Flanders after the Great War, the red poppy came to symbolise both loss and renewal, a promise that sacrifice would not fade from memory.
The Mossel Bay War Memorial itself holds a special place in local history. The monument was funded entirely by the community, with the names of fallen soldiers set over a mosaic map of Africa, a crimson line tracing the journeys from birth to death. Over the years, additional names have been added, a reminder that the cost of war is not confined to history books.
Originally observed as Armistice Day, the tradition has evolved into what we now know as Remembrance Day - honouring not only those who served in World War I, but every soldier who has given their life in service since 1914. Even as conflict persists around the world, its message remains timeless: to remember, reflect, and hope for peace.
This year’s Remembrance Day service will take place on Sunday 9 November at 11:00 at the war memorial at the Point in Mossel Bay.
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