The first item of interest is for anyone who has ever been or who is a soldier.
I belong to the Three Dice Shellhole in Kitwe, Zambia and recently our Old Bill sent us an email with regards to a special day which is approaching and of special interest to old soldiers.
That day is Remembrance Day. Many soldiers have heard the Last Post played but not many of us are aware of it's origins. In his email to us all, our Old Bill enclosed that story, here it is.
Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the American Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was
with his men near Harrison's Landing, in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow
strip of land. During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field.
Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the
stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached
the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment.
When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the
soldier was dead...
The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he
saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the
war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.
The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military
burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted.
The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the
funeral.
The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.
But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician.
The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece
of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform.
This wish was granted.
The haunting melody, we now know as 'The Last Post' used at military funerals was born.
The words are:
Day is done. Gone the sun. From the lakes. From the hills.
From the sky. All is well. Safely rest. God is nigh.
Fading light. Dims the sight. And a star. Gems the sky.
Gleaming bright. From afar. Drawing nigh. Falls the night.
Thanks and praise. For our days. Neath the sun. Neath the stars.
Neath the sky As we go. This we know. God is nigh.
Let us remember all those that never returned and who made the ultimate sacrifice.
I belong to the Three Dice Shellhole in Kitwe, Zambia and recently our Old Bill sent us an email with regards to a special day which is approaching and of special interest to old soldiers.
That day is Remembrance Day. Many soldiers have heard the Last Post played but not many of us are aware of it's origins. In his email to us all, our Old Bill enclosed that story, here it is.
Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the American Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was
with his men near Harrison's Landing, in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow
strip of land. During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field.
Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the
stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached
the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment.
When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the
soldier was dead...
The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he
saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the
war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.
The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military
burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted.
The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the
funeral.
The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.
But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician.
The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece
of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform.
This wish was granted.
The haunting melody, we now know as 'The Last Post' used at military funerals was born.
The words are:
Day is done. Gone the sun. From the lakes. From the hills.
From the sky. All is well. Safely rest. God is nigh.
Fading light. Dims the sight. And a star. Gems the sky.
Gleaming bright. From afar. Drawing nigh. Falls the night.
Thanks and praise. For our days. Neath the sun. Neath the stars.
Neath the sky As we go. This we know. God is nigh.
Let us remember all those that never returned and who made the ultimate sacrifice.
