poppyThe Sermon given by the Revd Pennie Payne
at the Remembrance Day Service held at St Mary's Church
on Sunday 8th November, 2009

I read recently that Remembrance Sunday should hold all these following elements within its structure…. Recalling, reliving, reconciling, rededication and hope for the future. With the deaths of Henry John “Harry “ Patch and Henry William Allingham this year the last living memories for us here in Britain of World War One have been consigned to History. But it is a history that is written in books, letters, photography, C.D’s and handed down by word of mouth, and therefore there is plenty of material to keep the memories alive…a recalling.

In the Great War a generation of relatives were later themselves to fight in another World War, the past horrors mingling with those of another horror, Nazism and yes still speak with an impact that can never be forgotten.

My twin sister and I were bought up by our Godmother during the latter stages of World War Two. She was born in the reign of Queen Victoria, and her husband fought in the First World War. He died as a result of gas poisoning that insidiously attacked his lungs, his heart and eyes, in the trenches at Paschendale. I never met him but I understand he never spoke of his experiences. I only discovered one day ‘snooping’ in a large wardrobe as children do a chest full of medals. So how did my Godmother along with hundreds and thousands of people meet this challenge of a life that would never be the same again. How did I get drawn into living in the shadow of a war that had ended?

Each year I wondered about this little crucifix that I'm wearing. At this time of Remembrance each year it was placed on a book- shelf with a scarlet poppy at its feet. It was made out of bullets and a shell case. I learnt later it was known as trench art. It symbolised that great passage we heard from St. John’s Gospel… ‘Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friends.’

How did my Godmother move forwards…what did she do? Well many years later during the second World War she took in evacuees…and later on fostered my twin and I. It was her way of walking through the tragedy of death.

When I finally found my family, thanks to a member of the services based in Germany, I discovered that my Polish father had escaped with his parents from another living hell…… the Bolshevik uprising. On my mother’s side, I inherit strong German-Jewish ancestry. Although my parents are dead I am now firmly integrated into my natural family.

Dave Boling a journalist in Washington wrote in his first novel about the massacre of Guernica – this is one of characters, Miguel, speaking… ‘If you lose someone you love , you need to redistribute your feelings rather than surrender them. You give them to whoever is left and the rest you turn towards something that will keep you moving forward’. Dave Boling has reported on many wars, and he speaks with insight.

Today in this church there are those of you who carry the memories and scars of World War Two, but I read recently, that far from numbers in Remembrance marches diminishing they are now increasing as more people are being recognised for non-combative services such as untiring efforts to keep normality back home during the Second World war. The Women’s Land Army, those involved in the civilian emergency services. And of course the tide of marchers are swelling with more recent conflicts, among them….Northern Ireland, The Falklands, Korea, (now veterans in their own right) Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Women now play a vital part of the forces on land, sea and air going out to places long denied them. A mother rather ruefully said in a recent report, ‘the public still request’ “bring our boys home safely” ’. I long to shout back ‘AND our girls!’ A husband staying at home to look after his children also responded after hearing a similar request, ’My wife is a surgeon in a field hospital in Afghanistan. I watch and hear what is going on and wonder if I will suddenly see her, or alternatively not see her and wonder if she is safe.’. And of course there are the fearsome scars of anxiety and stress of the families that are left behind.

Whichever war you fought in, the medals you wear today speak of you’re your achievements. Some of you will talk about them some of you will be silent, no one way is better than another but you wear them as great symbols of courage in the face of adversity. But in this age more and more we see how the face of present wars is changing. Terrorism rears its ugly head in many disguises and the courage of those who try to stem this tide of evil are tested to the limit.

I am not here today to discuss the rights and wrongs of warfare and whether we should be in certain countries at all because I know those who choose to join the forces do so because they want to make a difference to our world. Many also choose it above the so–called boring civilian work, and enjoy the adventurous and challenging work the forces demand. One veteran from World War Two I met last year during my time as acting chaplain to the Royal British Legion said of his time in action ‘I enjoyed every minute of it, it was a great adventure!’ That was a conversation last year. Following the latest horrific atrocity in Afghanistan a mother said… ‘Nobody wants their family to go out there but it was what he wanted to do’.

I think we have to remember, hard though it is, that many of those who fought in the First and Second world wars were ‘called up’, conscripted and had no choice. Many died anonymously, many died without the medical care modern warfare now offers. Many came home shell shocked and mentally damaged for ever. Today, there are members of our services who also suffer the severe physical and mental tortures of modern warfare, and these violent acts often visit the innocent and vulnerable, mowing down those going about their ordinary lives. It is amazing and encouraging to learn that it is often through the personal traumas of peoples’ lives that rays of hope for a positive future shine through as man seeks to hold out the hand of healing.

One man’s desire to help others face a better future following those who have suffered severe limb injuries, came to my knowledge only on Friday, I quote….

Recalling, reliving, reconciling, rededication and hope for the future, all elements I trust we can find in our service this morning.

My last words to you this morning are from a family friend, a soldier recently returned from Afghanistan. He wrote it in answer to my request for an anecdote for my Remembrance Day address here. He was happy to do this and wrote these poignant words so appropriate for today…….

Amen

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