By Mikayla van Loon
The township of Montrose filled the town square as people from across the community came to honour the Anzacs.
The service paid homage to Gallipoli, World War II, Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam, each commemorating significant anniversaries, but it was a message for one young person that carried true.
St Richard’s Primary School captain Jordan captured the essence of Anzac Day in her speech, understanding the importance of young people continuing to uphold the legacy of the Anzacs and the human cost that came with their sacrifices.
“We want to be thankful and remember those that gave their lives so we can live in a free society,” she said.
“It is important that the younger generation like myself realise that our way of life and freedom came at a very high price and cannot be taken for granted and that many thousands of Australians died in warfare.”
The Year 6 student said that if people her own age did not learn the cost of war, there was a risk of it repeating itself.
“It is my hope that as my generation matures into adulthood and become leaders in our society they will know about the horrors and tragedy of war,” she said.
“Let us continue to reflect on and remember the terrible ordeal that our soldiers suffered and the many that gave their lives in giving us our freedom, and not only all those years ago, but also in recent times.”
One of those people who gave their life in return for freedom was Edwin John Britnell, better known as Jack, who at the age of 20 in April 1941 did his duty and joined the war effort.
Trained as a baker he was assigned to an army battalion known as the First Field Bakery Unit.
In September he sailed for Singapore and just after his 21st birthday in February 1942, Singapore surrendered to the Japanese and Jack was taken as a prisoner of war.
Transported to Thailand, Jack was forced to work on the Burma Railway.
“After their arrival, the POWs were spread over several camps where they suffered from harsh treatment, disease and malnutrition,” Bayswater RSL vice president Richard Lamshed told the crowd.
Jack’s family had been informed he was being held prisoner but received no further communication until autumn 1944 when the telephone rang and it was confirmed Jack Britnell had died months earlier.
“Jack never had the opportunity to love, marry, enjoy being a parent…so many dreams not realised, so much potential loss,” Mr Lamshed said.
“Jack Britnell, you did your duty, and the family is proud of you.”
This story of Jack Britnell was just one of thousands but as the uncle of Montrose local Max Lamb and now a permanent name on the walls of Bayswater RSL, he is a reminder of the sacrifice made by so many local people.
