ANZAC Day can spark a myriad emotions, as we reflect on loved ones, friends or family members who have served or continue to serve in the Armed forces for our country.
“While looking through the vast history of my family members who have served in the Army, Air Force and Navy, during both World War I and II, I reflect in particular on Canon John Alfred Cue who served in World War I as a Padre in France from 1916 to 1918,” Elizabeth said.
“More commonly known as military chaplains; padres gave spiritual guidance to men who sought it. They didn’t carry weaponry even at the front.
“Among war photographs, documents and diaries was a poem that Canon Cue wrote from a memory picture of World War I, called ‘In the midst of death we are in life’, which I share below.”
In the midst of death, we are in life
by Canon John Alfred Cue
Have you heard the Lark a-singing?
I have heard the cannons boom,
With shells a-screaming overhead,
Where death and danger loom.
Have you seen the grass a-growing?
I have seen the earth all bare!
All torn and tossed by hot shell fire,
As if no one did care.
Have you seen the trees a-budding?
I have seen them cut in twain,
I’ve seen them dead or hanging there,
As if they were in pain.
Have you seen the lads a-playing?
I’ve seen them lying low.
Some maimed and bruised, some sick and ill,
A shocking sight for show.
Yes! I’ve heard the larks a-singing,
I’ve seen the growing grass,
I’ve seen the trees a-budding forth,
And laughing lads all pass.
You can hear the larks a-singing,
In spite of cannons roar,
You can see the grass a-growing,
To hide dear nature’s sore.
You can see the trees a-budding,
Ern branches on the ground,
You can see the lads a-laughing,
On stretchers lying round.
Nature’s great in all this turmoil,
Striving hard to make wrong, right.
Through lark and grass and tree and lad
Who each for life, will fight.
When Canon Cue returned to Australia from war, he continued to help others and was inducted at the Church of St Thomas the Apostle in Toowong on June 5, 1925 as Reverend.
“He lived his life to serve others,” Elizabeth said, “and among many notes in his diary Canon Cue wrote:
“During life, the greatest gift is the ability to stop and listen, to be humble, conciliatory and tactful, and to except others for the way that they are, for there is always a story or circumstance behind one’s eyes.”
