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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-11-14 Daily Xml
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Remembrance Day

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:27): I rise to speak on a very significant occasion that I am sure we would all have commemorated in some manner one way or another last Sunday, and that is of course the 100-year anniversary of the armistice between the allied forces and Germany, signalling the formal end of World War I. This pivotal event in history came into effect at the 11th hour on 11 November 1918, marking the formal end of World War I, which is of course the reason we have the important tradition of observing a minute's silence on this date and on this hour each year to remember those who have served our country during combat.

It is incredible to reflect on the fact that some 420,000 men, aged between 18 and 44, from a population of just 4.9 million at the time, chose to enlist in service. That is 420,000 of 4.9 million, approaching 10 per cent, which constituted almost 39 per cent of the adult male population. Just under 35,000 of these were South Australians.

It is important to note that it was not just men who went to war, of course, but many Australian women volunteered in various capacities, serving in countries such as Egypt, France, Greece and often close to the front lines where the carnage prevailed. The spirit of adventure and the opportunity to see the world was no doubt a primary motivator for these men and women to contribute to the war effort, as was their desire to engage in service and their innate sense of duty and responsibility.

Ultimately, as we are all too aware, some 60,000 soldiers were killed and more than 155,000 were injured in some of the most horrific conflicts in history, including those that took place in Gallipoli, in the Middle East and on the Western Front. In 2016, I had the privilege of visiting a number of the battlefields in France, including some of the very famous ones in Fromelles, Mont St Quentin, Le Hamel and Villers-Bretonneux. As a result of this experience, I gained a far greater understanding and a deeper appreciation of the tremendous sacrifice made by many Australians who fought in the first AIF in some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable. Two of the most significant events I had the honour of participating in around those places that I just mentioned were various commemorations, which were incredibly humbling and extraordinarily appropriate, given the tremendous sacrifices that occurred at those places.

Members may be aware, in fact, that my father is also a returned serviceman who served in Vietnam in 1968. He was a regular soldier. He enlisted of his own free will and was a soldier in the Army prior to the formal commencement of Australia's involvement in Vietnam. He tells some horrific stories, I can assure you, sir, of happenings over there. It has been something that I have always held dear, that our returned servicemen and servicewomen deserve the greatest respect. I have no doubt that each member of this chamber took the opportunity to commemorate the end of the Great War, as it was called, on Sunday just passed.

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