Tuesdag November 6, 2018 at 14.00 hours a Funeral Service took place for 2 Unknown Soldiers of the 1ste Australian Imperial Force and 1 Unknown Soldier of The Lancashire Fusiliers.

The place of the reburial was Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in the world. Currently the resting place of more than 11,900 servicemen from the First World War. The Cross of Sacrifice stands on a German pillbox captured by the 3rd Australian Division on October 4, 1917. Used as an advanced dressing station, 343 graves were made on 2 sides of it by British and Canadian units from October 1917 to Marc 1918. After the Armistice remains were brought in from small burial grounds and the battlefields of Passchendaele and Langemarck. More than 8,370 of those buried here remain unidentified.

Their bodies were found lying side by side, within what is believed to be a shell hole along Vijfwegestraat - a road leading to the cemetery, during roadworks near Passchendaele in December 2015.
Despite extensive investigations by the Australian Army's Unrecovered War Casualties team and the UK's Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre, it has not been possible to identify these three men. But should future information make identification possible, the respective investigations will be reopened by the Service Authorities.

Interesting fact. While digging the graves for this Funeral Service, an unexploded bomb from the First World War was discovered. According to the bomb disposal team it is likely to have been a German gas shell - undisturbed for the last century. A British water bottle was also found.

The Service was led by the Reverend Peter Friend, Director Chaplaincy, Air Command, Royal Australian Air Force and the Reverend Stuart Richards CF, Chaplain, 1ste BattalionThe Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.



Arrival of the VIP's



Introduction and background




Arrival of the coffins
 






























Welcome

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

We are here to worship Almighty God, whose purposes are good; whose power sustains the world he has made; who loves us, though we have failed in his service; who gave Jesus Christ for the life of the world; who by his Holy Spirit leads us in his way.
As we give thanks for his great works, we remember those who have lived and died in his service and in the service of others; we pray for all who suffer through war and are in need; we ask for his help and blessing that we may do his will, and that the whole world may acknowledge him as Lord and King.



Bidding Prayer

Almighty God,
You judge us with infinite mercy and justice
and love everything that you have made.
In your mercy turn the darkness of death into the awn of new life, and the sorrow of parting into the joy of heaven;
through our saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Scripture Reading (Australian Representative)
Isaiah 2:2-5 (KJV)

And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go fort the law, and the word of the LORD from Jezusalem.

And he shall judge amoun the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

 

Hymn - Abide with Me
Written by Henry Francis Lyte
Sung to 'Eventide' by William Henry Monk

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me




Scripture Reading
(United Kingdom Representative)
Romans 8:35-39 (KJV)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.



Interment

Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take  unto himself the souls of our dear brothers here departed, we therefore commit their bodies to the ground; earth to earth,ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change the body of our low estate that it may be like unto his glorious body, according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself.

































Volley of Shots











The Exhortation
(Australian RSM/SNCO)

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them
We will remember them.



Transferring of the flags





Last Post









Silence





Reveille





Kohima Epitaph
(British SNCO)

When you go home tell them of us and say:
"For your tomorrow, we gave our today".



Wreath Laying and Moment of Remembrance













Prayers

For the Departed.
Almighty and eternal God, from whose love in Christ we cannot be parted, either by death or life: Hear our prayers and thanksgivings for all whom we remember this day; fulfil in them the purpose of your love; and bring us all, with them; to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

For the Peace of the World.
Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all, the true love of peace and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth that in tranquility your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
Amen

For all the Armed Forces of the Crown.
Almighty God, stretch forth your mighty arm to strengthen and protect the armed forces: grant that meeting danger with courage and all occasions with discipline and loyalty, we may truly serve the cause of justice and peace; to the honour of your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen 



The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
The Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
Ans lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.



Regimental Collect of the Lancashire Fusiliers
(Read by Lancashire Fusiliers)

O Lord God, for as much as nothing is too hard for thee,
increase, we pray thee, the faith of the Lancashire Fusiliers,
so that we may wear courage like a flower in the day of battle,
and hearing his voice who hath said,
all things are possible for the love of thee,
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.



The Australian Army Soldier's Prayer
(Read by Australian Army)

Almighty God, whose command is over all, and whose love never fails, let me be aware of your presence, and obedient to your will. Help me to accept my share of responsibility with a strong heart and cheerful mind. Make me considerate of those with whom I live and work, and faithful to the duties my country has entrusted to me. Let my uniform remind me daily of the traditions of the Service in which I serve. When I am inclined to doubt, strenghten my faith. When I fail, give me the courage to try again. Guide me with the light of your truth and keep before me the life and example of Jesus in whose name I pray.
Amen.



The Dismissal

Support us, O Lord,
all the day long of this troublous life,
until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes,
the busy world is hushed,
the fever of life is over
and our work is done.
Then, Lord, in your mercy grant us a safe lodging,
a holy rest, and peace at the last;
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.



God grant to the living, grace; to the departed, rest; to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth,and all mankind, peace and concord, and to us and all his servants, life everlasting; and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, come down upon you and remain with you always.
Amen.





National Anthems: Belgium, Australian and British











Conclusion and Praying of Individual Respects















Pagina aangemaakt door IDG en Filip Vanloo