FSO - Let the bells ring

John Donne
1624 Meditation 17
Devotions upon Emergent Occasions

"No man is an iland, intire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee...." 

Our Friday Shoot Out coincides with Anzac Day and that is a big deal for Aussies and Kiwis. On Anzac Day bells don't ring in celebration;  if they ring at all it is to call people to commerate all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations, their sacrifice so we can enjoy the freedom we do in this country.  

The first time I visited the carillon in New Plymouth I was standing directly underneath it when it tolled the hour at mid-day.  It's a wonder I'm still here to tell the tale, I got such a fright.  I wonder if the New Plymouth Returned Services' Association use the bells as part of their Anzac Day services?  

There are 37 bells ranging from 900 cm (3 ft) in diameter and weighing more than 362 kg (800 lbs) down to a nine inch bell weighing only 1.4 kg (3 lbs).  The total weight is 2,500 kg (5,587 lbs).  These are the most impressive bells I have ever seen (or heard). I would love to hear them tolling slowly.

As part of my fascination with the little old churches of the north I have quite a few bell shots but just one favourite to share with you.  This is a close up of the bell in its own little building in front of the catholic church in Rawene.

I don't have another bell photo for Anzac Day.  The Last Post bugle call is the sound of this day.  It signalled to those who were still out in the fields of war and wounded or separated from their units that the fighting was done, and to follow the sound of the call to find safety and rest. Its use in Remembrance Day ceremonies in Commonwealth nations has two generally unexpressed purposes: The first is an implied summoning of the spirits of the Fallen to the cenotaph, the second is to symbolically end the day.

Thanks to Vintage Queensland for the image

To those I didn't get to visit last week, I will see both weeks entries this time round at the FSO blog.