Tasmanian soldier honoured with flowers Hune Churchyard Updated: 11 DEC 2015
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Yesterday it was cold and windy at
Hune Churchyard, but that did not prevent Vicar Poul Erik Tranholm-Pedersen
and girls from the choir of Hune Church from going there and mark the royal
wedding in an untraditional manner. The Parochial Council of Hune Church had
decided to hold a small memorial ceremony in honour of a Tasmanian soldier
who died during World War 2.
-We have decided to commemorate H.J.
Brock today, as now there is a connection between Tasmania and Denmark,
states Poul Erik Tranholm-Pedersen.
Henry James Brock was the son of H.J.
Brock of ”Meadowbank” and ”Lawrenny” in Tasmania, and he was an Officer of
the Royal Australian Air Force. On 27 February 1945 his plane, Beaufighter
no. 455, was shot down. His pal bailed out and saved his life, but
twentythree-year-old Brock died. On 4 July 1945 his body was washed ashore
near Rødhus. On 6 July he was buried in Hune Churchyard. Since then his
grave has been kept by means from
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
And yesterday there were songs at his
grave and flowers were laid. ”Even if it happened 59 years ago, it is still
important to remember those who
died in the fight for freedom, ” Erik Normann of the Parochial Church
Council stated.
We take freedom for granted, but if
others from other countries had not interfered nazism might have prevailed,
and that is why I think we ought to show our gratitude to the many who
sacrificed so much to gain the freedom we benefit from, Erik Normann states.
Johanne Larsen and Malene Olesen were
chosen by lot to lay flowers at the soldier’s grave. In that way past and
present were linked together in the most beautiful manner, and it gave food
for thoughts to the young girls.
”It was a pity that he lost his life
when he was 23 years old. He could have accomplished so much,”
Mia Sørensen thoughtfully added. Subsequently Erik Normann will try to find relatives of the soldier via the Australian Embassy to tell about the ceremony. |
