Remembrance Day: We will remember them

At the 11th hour, on the 11^th day of the 11^th month, we come together across Australia and all over the world for Remembrance Day. A time for reflection, as we pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, so we may live in peace.

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.” - Laurence Binyon

As the guns on the Western Front fell silent, at 11 am on 11 November 1918, this brought World War One to a close. After more than four long years of relentless warfare, the Germans called for an armistice (a suspension of fighting) in order to secure a peace settlement and surrendered to the allied forces. The day originally became known as Armistice Day, for the remembrance of those who had died in that war. After World War Two, the Australian Government, in line with the United Kingdom’s proposal, endorsed the move that Armistice Day be renamed Remembrance Day to commemorate those who were killed in both World Wars.

In 1997, Governor-General Sir William Deane issued a proclamation:

On 11 November at 11am, we will pause to remember all the men and women of the Australian Defence Force who have made the ultimate sacrifice. We will remember them.

He formally declared that 11 November would be Remembrance Day, urging all Australians to observe a one-minute silence at 11am on 11 November each year, to remember those who died or suffered for Australia's cause in all wars and armed conflicts. Today the loss of Australian lives from all wars and conflicts is commemorated on Remembrance Day. Lest we forget.

Australia has been involved in many armed conflicts, together with its allied partners in both the 20^th and 21^st centuries. All the way from WW1 over 100 years ago, to Afghanistan in recent times. These actions, with all the human cost, have been captured in some highly impactful cinematic portrayals. Few of us can fully appreciate the terrible impact of war, but through these films we can catch a glimpse of what it may have been like and the impact on people’s lives.

The following releases are recommended viewing for mature audiences, available on Netflix.

Netflix

Directed by Mel Gibson, the film tells the story – in very graphic detail – of Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), the first conscientious objector to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. Doss ultimately saves 75 men without using a weapon during the battle for Okinawa.

Amazon Prime

Starring Brad Pitt, War Machine shows the futility of war and is both a drama and a satire. Set in Afghanistan soon after Barack Obama’s election when America was preparing to end the war yet those stationed there still had to continue the war effort.

Prime Video (Rent or Buy)

Kokoda is one of those film gems on Australia’s cinema resume. This Australian war films portrays the harrowing story of the 39^th Battalion that was made up of inexperienced and ill-equipped Australian soldiers along the Kokoda trail in New Guinea during World War II.

On top of facing Japanese soldiers in already dire circumstances, the Battalion were force to find inner strength and true mateship against disease, exhaustion, and loneliness in a war that seemingly would not end.

Prime Video (Rent or Buy)

From acclaimed director Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk is a gripping war film that depicts the Dunkirk evacuation where allied soldiers from Belgium, France and the British Commonwealth were surrounded by the German Army and could not escape to return home.

Approximately 400,000 men were stranded in this dire situation and desperate for the war to end. The film is told from three different perspectives: land, sea and air showcasing the struggle for survival against overwhelming odds and how nations came together to rescue their men.

Prime Video (Rent or Buy)

In his directorial debut for a theatrical feature, Russell Crowe’s The Water Diviner follows the story of Joshua Connor, an Australian farmer who travels all the way to Turkey after World War I to find his sons who have been missing since the Gallipoli campaign.

Unsure if his children are alive or not, Connor must integrate himself into the local community and confront potential heartbreak to find answers on where his sons may be. As part of his journey he finds humanity in the people he meets despite the recent conflict, and these strangers help him find hope.

Easily manage your eligible subscriptions on Optus SubHub by bringing them together in one place with one simple payment each month. Save up to 10% on subscriptions including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Paramount+, BINGE, BritBox, YouTube Premium and more when you link them to Optus SubHub. T&Cs apply.

Plus, when you sign up to select SIM plans, you can save even more on your favourite streaming subscriptions with a monthly credit applied to your SubHub account. T&Cs apply.

^{This is an updated version of an article first published on 6 November 2023}