Moths from the three shellholes in the Coalfield District gathered for a commemorative march
The service then proceeded to the Moths standing to attention for a minute’s silence in memory of those who were killed in action
Armistice Day is commemorated on the Sunday closest to November 11 annually in South Africa and the countries of the Commonwealth to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War 1 and Germany for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War 1, which took effect at eleven o’clock in the morning – the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918.
Subsequently the commemoration was expanded to include World War 2, and honours all South Africans who made the supreme sacrifice for their country in wars and conflict, including the struggle for democracy.
This year marked the 101st commemoration of WW1, the 75th anniversary of D-Day when the Allied Forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, France which marked the Allied push back that resulted in the end of WW2 on September 2, 1945.
The Witbank Service was held at the Moth Retirement Village on Sunday, November 10 where the Moths from the three shellholes in the Coalfield District gathered for a commemorative march led by two pipers, followed by a message from the District Old Bill Moth Koos Kleinsmith.
Moth Kokkie Smit, the Moth Pastor, delivered an inspiring homily linking holy scripture and prayer to the ideals and purposes of the Moths namely True Comradeship, Sound Memory and Mutual Help.
Moth Dion Slabbert spoke of the devastation and tragedies during World War 2 that was the conflict with the highest loss of human life ever recorded, most of which were women and children.
The service then proceeded to the Moths standing to attention for a minute’s silence in memory of those who were killed in action.
This was followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the cenotaph. Moth Chris Sonnekus concluded the commemoration by thanking all the Moths, friends of the Moth and the general public for their support in making the parade a success.
Before the proceedings concluded the gathering sang one of the MOTH anthems “Pack up you troubles”, everyone then adjourned into the Dugout where three of the Moths proposed toasts to South Africa, Our Land; The Moth and to Absent Friends.
