A sermon for Remembrance Sunday at St Edward’s 2024
Readings: Psalm 62, Mark 1:14-20
For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from God
Today we remember.
We remember the millions who died in conflict. Of course we remember mostly those who were in the armed forces. But I find myself thinking also of those who were innocent casualties in a battle they had no part in. Those whose lives were changed irrevocably through injury, through grief, through loss of home, neighbourhood and livelihood. Those whose lives were never the same again. I think of all those who still face this today. Of all those who fight in wars not of their choosing, those who live in war zones now, those whose grief is made political, those who have lost homes, land, neighbourhoods and livelihood. Those who face political turmoil in their nations, who live in fear.
So often on these sorts of occasions our remembrance becomes nebulous, non specific. In WW1 and 2 it is estimated that over 100 million people died. Vast numbers of deaths mean it is hard to focus on the individual.
And yet every death, every casualty, every griever is a person. A human being. A neighbour. They had a story, a life, a family, people who loved them. So I’m going to tell you some of their stories this morning. Some of those whose names we’ve just heard read out.
Like:
Harold Simmonds
Harold was the only son of Thomas and Elizabeth. He was born in Brighton General hospital on Christmas Day 1920. He was baptised at St Andrew’s church, Burgess Hill in Feb 1921. Harold attended London Road school and was a keen swimmer and member of the Burgess Hill swimming club. He and his family lived on Church Road.
It has been suggested that Harold started work as a chef at Bolney Grange although other sources suggest he may have ‘worked for the government’. Harold always wanted to fly and volunteered for the RAF in 1941.
After initial training and working in maintenance, he later joined an Avro Lancaster III crew in 1943 and Just 10 days after training he was picked to become part of the newly formed 617 Squadron based at RAF Coningsby, training in secret for what turned out to be the dam buster raid.
Training took place on a number of sites where the crew learnt new skills to accurately attack three dams on the Ruhr valley using the new ‘bouncing bomb’. The attack had the codename ‘Operation Chastise’.
On the night of 16 May 1943 several aircraft took off, in three formations at staggered times shortly after 9 pm. Harold was in the first formation, their objective was the Moehne dam.
Their fifth attempt was successful, causing a large breach in the dam. Of 19 aircraft that went on this mission only 11 returned safely, including Harold’s.
On their return the men were given 7 days leave and became instant celebrities. 617 Squadron was retained as a specialist unit and Harold reportedly took part in three further raids over Italy.
Sadly he was killed when on a mission just a few months later his plane crashed into the sea in heavy mist.
On God rests my deliverance and my honour; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.
Let me tell you also about Stephen Maxwell:
Stephen was the fourth child of George and Mary Maxwell. George was a noted carpenter and joiner who lived and worked at the Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic on Ditchling Common.
Stephen was an enthusiastic scout in the Ditchling Scout troop and later a Rover scout in Burgess Hill. He was also the chairman of the Burgess Hill youth club, at a young age. The 1939 register records Stephen as an apprentice joiner and he later moved to work for Southern Railway. His elder brother Vincent was training for the Roman Catholic priesthood while his younger brother hoped to take up farming.
Stephen enlisted in 1942 with the Gordon Highlanders, later the 1st Battalion the London Scottish regiment. He arrived in Italy and was part of 168 Division tasked with clearing the enemy from positions south of the river Garigliano. Attack followed counter-attack through the summer of 1943 in very muddy conditions. Stephen was seriously wounded in the stomach and leg and was evacuated by stretcher to a field hospital. He died of his wounds in January 1944.
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us
And finally, George Gasson:
George was born on 16 July 1917 the third son of 12 children born to Walter and Annie Gasson. Walter had served in the RASC during WW1 and by 1939 was an engine driver at the brick works.
The family lived at 100 West Street. George was educated at London Road School and on leaving school worked as a gardener, initially at Silverdale Nurseries and later at what is now known as Burgess Hill Girls, on Keymer Road. He was a keen football player and cricketer.
Four of George’s brothers served in the army during WW2, two of his sisters were in the Women’s Land Army and another two worked in munitions. George enlisted in the 1st Battalion the Royal Sussex Regiment early in the war. Initially he served in the middle east then Italy.
George had been due home on leave when he was going to marry his fianceé aircraftswoman Bettty Blunden, but was killed on 11 Feb 1944, driving an ambulance which was shelled while collecting wounded.
These young men like many others, had perfectly normal lives, involved in their communities, having plans for marriage and families, but war robbed them of their future. They might be just 1 name on a list of millions of millions but we remember them here in the town where they lived.
As we remember, we, I hope there is no list like this in our future. Where our names may be, where our loved ones are remembered, where our community mourns for so many lost.
steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all according to their work.
Amen
With grateful thanks to local historian Mary Norris for her research into all those on our war memorial.
No Comments