Moderators Message - Remember Them

REMEMBER THEM…

our Moderator Rev Doug McRoberts reflects:

They lie in fields across the world – some in their thousands; some in small groups who died together in a ship, or an aircraft, or a tank; some alone; many still unnamed or undiscovered. But each and every one is known to God, and was – and still should be – remembered. Some died almost within sight of home – the young men on board the Iolaire, lost in a turmoil of wind, rocks and sea surges right at the entrance to Stornoway harbour… the Beaufighter, Sunderland and Wellington aircrews who came from across the world, flew from Highlands and Hebrides bases, and all died within sight of each others’ crash sites on St Kilda…

Across what is now Clèir Eilean Ì, they prepared for their service. Commandos – including my uncle Jimmy – in Lochaber, at Achnacarry… Atlantic convoys sailed past the Kyles and Kintyre on their lifesaving mission… in sea lochs and bases from Loch Ewe round to Invergordon, grey ships slipped anchor and slid out on Arctic convoys, or to do battle with other warships… from Machrihanish, Oban, Stornoway, Wick, Inverness and other airbases, the flying boats and the fighters lifted off… My dad helped marshal some of the convoys. My mum, an ARP warden, did her bit back home, once clearing a whole street in Glasgow as a parachute mine dangled precariously above…

As the miracle of the little ships returned over 330,000 troops through Dunkirk, the 51st Highlanders fought to protect their rearguard at St Valery – and so many of them didn’t come home…

Yes, it is right to remember. The “war to end all wars” was succeeded, just 21 years later, by the first truly global conflict. Its ending, as before, sowed the seeds of conflicts which have produced, in our own time, the wars in Ukraine and Israel/Palestine/Lebanon. That is the worst of humanity. But, even in these awful scenes, there is also the best of humanity. Sacrificial living and giving. Lives risked for the saving of others. Not, of course, by the politicians, economists, and industrialists. But by the men, and women, and children caught up in the brutal results of politics, finance, and industry. And by the soldier.

It is the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the Soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the Soldier, not the peace camp organiser, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the Soldier, who serves beneath the Flag; whose coffin is draped by the Flag; who allows the protester to burn the Flag. It is the Soldier, not the politician, whose life ends in battle. The Soldier, who has given these freedoms, and in whose memory we lay our wreaths…

“Love one another, just as I love you. The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them.”

Jesus spoke these words just as he set out for Gethsemane.

So, let us remember together. God, help us in our remembering.