Moving sunset service on Newcastle Memorial Walk kicks off Anzac Day 2021 commemorations

He became emotional reading the story of Major General Sir Hector MacDonald, a rifleman who fought in Afghanistan so valiantly, he was offered either a commission or a Victoria Cross, but ultimately took his own life in 1903 due to pressure and resentment from the class-sensitive British military.

"It's quite relevant to what's been going on over the past few months with veteran suicides," he said.

"As a Vietnam vet we lost a lot of blokes when we came back and we didn't have the support services there are now. All of a sudden as soon as I saw the word suicide I started to choke. You get through it, but that was the hard bit."

Related: Newcastle and Hunter Anzac Day services 2021

The story was part of a short but moving service on the Newcastle Memorial Walk, which was officiated by Mr Fayle and included combined performances by the Australian Army Band Newcastle and the City of Newcastle RSL Pipe Band.

Sunset services are held by the Army and Navy and hark back to a time in war before clocks or watches were used.

Commanders would instruct their bugler or drummer to play to instruct their troops to break from battle as darkness fell for the day.

"Later later in camp it became used to warn the outlying troops to withdraw to the confines of the encampment as pickets were set for the night," Mr Fayle said.

It was the fourth time City of Newcastle RSL Sub-Branch had held the sunset ceremony since introducing it in 2017.

Mr Fayle said the intention of the service before Anzac Day was to follow the lines of The Ode: "At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them".

"We have this service when the sun goes down and we have the dawn service when the sun comes up," he said.

An estimated 300 people lined Memorial Drive, below the Memorial Walk to view the ceremony and pay their respects.

"It's wonderful to see people take the time to come up, take an hour out of their day," Mr Fayle said. "It shows respect and that's great."

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