Glenwood held its annual Remembrance Day Service at Glenwood High School in Durban on Wednesday 7 November, a few days early to the official Poppy Day. In addition to the staff and schoolboys present, many dignitaries and members of the public attended. These included the Natal Mounted Rifles, the Parabat Battalion, the South African Legion, Rhumbelow Moth Shellhole as well as local schools.
After 4 sentries were posted around the flagpole, various speakers explained the significance of the day and the symbolism of the poppies. The traditional Last Post, minute’s silence and Reveille were part of the ceremony which ended with a final prayer.
Remembrance Day (sometimes known informally as Poppy Day) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth of Nations member states since the end of the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty.
Following a tradition inaugurated by King George V in 1919,[1] the day is also marked by war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth countries. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November in most countries to recall the end of hostilities of World War I on that date in 1918.
Hostilities formally ended “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month”, in accordance with the armistice signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. (“At the 11th hour” refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 am.) The First World Wa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Dayr officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919.
(Photo above) Dr Andri Barnes – Principal Glenwood High School