HMAS Toowoomba united in remembrance
The Last Post sounded aboard HMAS Toowoomba at 11am on November 11 for the 2023 Remembrance Day ceremony, led by Toowoomba’s embarked chaplain, Lieutenant Commander Bradley Galvin.
CAPTION: Navy Chaplain Bradley Galvin addresses HMAS Toowoomba ship’s company as they commemorate Remembrance Day in the East China Sea during a regional presence deployment. Story by Lieutenant Commander Kieran Davis. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.
Ship’s company gathered in the hangar for the ceremony to acknowledge, honour and remember the courage and sacrifice of those who have served our country and those who gave their lives in service to our nation.
This year marks the 105th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice between Allied forces and Germany, which ended World War 1. More Australians were killed and wounded in that war than in all subsequent conflicts combined.
Commanding Officer HMAS Toowoomba Commander Darin MacDonald said Australians, for more than 100 years, have paused to honour the sacrifice of service personnel who have fought and died in war, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
“Notwithstanding that Toowoomba is deployed on operations supporting Australia’s national interests, her ship’s company joins all Australians on Remembrance Day to commemorate all Australian service personnel who have fought and died in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations,” Commander MacDonald said.
For Chaplain Galvin, conducting a Remembrance Day ceremony at sea allowed deployed service personnel to remember and honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the liberty and freedom enjoyed by Australians.
“We hold in our hearts the families who will grieve their loss today, and respectfully acknowledge those wounded in the course of their service,” Chaplain Galvin said.
“United in remembrance, we look to a future made possible by the courage, service and sacrifice of past generations, and we pledge to work together as one team to build on their legacy.”
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