A WARRNAMBOOL couple in Europe for Anzac Day believes it’s a right of passage every Australian should strive for.
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Andrew and Shirley Barrie have visited the graves of Mrs Barrie’s relatives who made the ultimate sacrifice for Australia.
On their trip they have visited the grave of Edwin George Errey, who died from wounds at the age of 29 in France, Frank Owen Turner Wilson, who was buried at Toronto Avenue Cemetery in Belgium who died at the age of 28. He was killed in action.
Other graves they have visited included that of George Benjamin Errey who died in action age 24 in Belgium and Leonard George Prentice Errey who died from wounds at Ypres in Belgium on October 4, 1917 at age 24.
They also visited Mrs Barrie’s grandmother’s brother Stephen Llewellyn Wilson, who died from wounds at Ypres in September 1917.
The couple said it was important to pay tribute to our fallen soldiers.
“Our feelings were of great sadness at their sacrifice, that they never got to come home,” Mr Barrie said.
“My great uncle William Barrie returned to South Australia from the battlefields of Europe but carried lasting scars, being gassed and suffering permanent lung damage and a rasping cough to remind him of that terrible time.”
Our feelings were of great sadness at their sacrifice, that they never got to come home.
- Andrew Barrie
The couple said these men should never be forgotten.
“We hope future generations, especially family, make that journey,” Mr Barrie said.
“These men deserve – at the very least – to be remembered. We believe that all Australians should visit at least one memorial to those who served and gave the ultimate price.
The couple said it was disappointing when people were advised against travelling to places like Gallipoli due to possible threats.
“Shirley and I have travelled extensively around the world and there is always a possibility of danger,” Mr Barrie said. “But do we stop travelling because of that? We take risks every day when we go out in our cars, does that mean we should not drive anywhere?"
The couple will attend a service abroad on Anzac Day to pay their respects to fallen soldiers.
They hope its an experience other Australians experience in their lifetime.
The couple moved to Warrnambool 18 months ago.
