'Shared silence is an enduring act of remembrance'

On Remembrance Day, Navy personnel will pause at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, as we do each year.

This year marks the 108th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that brought an end to the fighting in the First World War.

Our shared silence is an enduring act of remembrance and respect for all Australians who have served, suffered and sacrificed in war, conflict and peace operations.

Whether serving at sea or ashore, across Australia and around the world, we will stand together as one Navy to observe one minute’s silence.

In that moment, we honour those who came before us and reflect on the freedoms their service has helped secure.

Like many of you, I will wear a red poppy on this day of remembrance. The poppy became a lasting symbol of sacrifice after it was among the first flowers to bloom on the battle-scarred fields of northern France and Belgium following the First World War.

For generations, the poppy has reminded us of the courage, service and sacrifice of those who gave their lives in defence of our nation, and of all ADF personnel who have served in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

The poppy is immortalised in John McCrae’s famous poem In Flanders Fields, from which this excerpt, below, is drawn.

Lest we forget.