I read the following in a whatsapp message:
In all military funerals 'The Last Post' is played. We have all heard the haunting song, 'The Last Post.' It's the song that gives us the lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes! But, do you know the story behind the song?..if not, I think you will be interested to find out about its humble beginnings.
The post said the ‘Last Post ‘ played by military bands at funerals of armed forces men began in 1862 during the American Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison’s Landing in Virginia ..
The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.. During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment. When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead..The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier.. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army. The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted.He had asked if a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician. The Captain chose a bugler and asked him to play the musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of his son’s uniform. This wish was granted. The haunting melody, now known as ‘The Last Post’ used at military funerals was, according to the author of the article, ‘forward’ born.
The words are:
Day is done.
Gone the sun..
From the lakes
From the hills.
From the sky.
All is well.
Safely rest.
God is nigh.
Fading light.
Dims the sight.
And a star.
Gems the sky.
Gleaming bright.
From afar..
Drawing nigh.
Falls the night..
Thanks and praise.
For our days.
Neath the sun
Neath the stars.
Neath the sky
As we go.
This we know.
God is nigh
Such a lovely Story but actually not true in terms of its origins. The words of the above song were composed by a poetess Carol Ann Duffy in July 2009 in honour of the fallen soldiers of World War One. In that same year she became the United Kingdom's first female Poet Laureate in May. Wikipedia does not confirm the origins of the song. It seems to have been an adaption from the last post used by the British Military to tell soldiers to go to sleep.
The first time I heard this tune was when I was a cadet in Cambridge High School when the Day of Remembrance was honoured on 11 November each year. Even though it was never played perfectly by my fellow scholars, I clearly remember the tune and the poignant feelings it evoked in me. It was the only time that I ever showed respect and humility, there at that ceremony. There was a minute's silence after the bugle's sound had faded away.
There is a connection to South Africa; it was during the Zulu war in the late 1800's that the "Last Post" was used for mourning at the burial of dead soldiers. It very quickly became part of the national culture of the British Empire.
So there you have it. A lovely tale, yet not true. Is it bad? Not in my opinion, never a bad thing to think about the sad outcome of any conflict and the countless dead, paying a terrible price for the ambitions of a few.
