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Post by Waverley on Apr 22, 2007 20:01:14 GMT 1
The Orange Memorial in France to Fallen Brethren not only recalls the service to King and Country by members of the Orange Institution from throughout the world in the Great War 1914 - 1918 but in other conflicts before and after.
The siting of the Memorial at the Somme beside the Ulster Tower was deemed appropriate when one considers the great sacrifices that were made on that now sacred ground by members of the Order. The Memorial provides a focus of Remembrance for Orangemen and women and their descendants throughout the world as more and more make the pilgrimage to the Battlefields of Europe.
It is a historical fact that the Orange Institution saw more of its members serve and make the 'Supreme Sacrifice' in the First World War than any other organisation.The Orange Institution are justly proud of the tens of thousands of their Brethren who in the rich tradition of Orangeism left all that was dear to them to serve their King and Country.
The 'Call To Arms' by Bro.Sir Samuel Hughes, the Canadian Minister for War and member of LOL 557 Lindsay Ontario resulted in some 80,000 brethren from Canada volunteer.
They were followed by thousands of Australian and New Zealand Orangemen. Able Seaman Bro. William George Vincent Williams of LOL 92 Melbourne, was the first Australian to be killed in the war. Thousands more from South Africa, the USA and lesser known countries and islands from throughout the Empire answered the call and paid the supreme sacrifice.
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