‘Remember to remember’: Soldiers commemorate Remembrance Day

From a century of family service to battles fought at home, two Far North veterans share why November 11 transcends the Anzac legend.

Catherine Duffy

3 min read

November 11, 2025 - 6:00AM

The Cairns Post

After almost ceasing to exist during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Edmonton RSL sub branch will host its first Remembrance Day service since 2019. Edmonton RSL sub branch president Gordon Burgess and deputy president Jeff Langham encourage all southside residents to join them at the Edmonton cenotaph to pay their respects to the fallen at 11am on Tuesday. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cairns

Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.

From mapping Australia’s oceans to protecting our borders, two servicemen have shared stories of service, sacrifice and what Remembrance Day means to them.

Ex-servicemen, Gordon Burgess and Jeff Langham, who served together in the Royal Australian Navy, said Remembrance Day was a special time to honour those fighting to keep Australia safe.

For retired Lieutenant Jeff Langham, who served 40 years in the navy, Remembrance Day has always served as a time to reflect not only on his service, but that of the generations before him.

“It’s a time to remember family and friends, especially those no longer with us … that includes my father who’s no longer with me,” Mr Langham said.

Raised in Cairns, Mr Langham followed his father and brother into a military career, joining the navy as a seaman in 1979, and working as a hydrographic surveyor until he retired as a lieutenant in 2019.

Edmonton RSL sub branch deputy president Lieutenant Jeff Langham, who served 40 years in the Royal Australian Navy, pictured with his father and brother who served in the Royal Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force respectively. Photo: Supplied.

“I went all around Australia, as a chartmaker, that was a big thing in my day … it saves millions of dollars in shipping and maritime safety because you don’t want ships running into uncharted rocks on the Great Barrier Reef,” he said.

“My father served 30 years in the Army, my brother served 20 years in the air force, my grandfather was in World War I, so we have nearly 100 years of military service in three generations, and I’ve got a teen boy in the navy cadets.”

Mr Langham said it was important to continue to commemorate Remembrance Day and honour the servicemen, women and animals who keep the country safe.

“We have a lot of young veterans who served in recent areas of conflict like Afghanistan, East Timor, and if we continue to observe Remembrance Day, it shows that Australians respect the sacrifices they’ve made, including the horses and dogs that worked with our guys,” he said.

“I think that’s the thing; to remember to remember. It’s only a minute but shows a whole lot of respect.”

Edmonton RSL sub branch president Gordon Burgess, who also worked as a hydrographic surveyor in the navy, said he wanted to follow in his grandfathers’ footsteps of service.

“My grandfather was a World War II veteran in the Australian Army, so there was always a desire to one day serve, just like he did,” Mr Burgess said.

Mr Burgess has notched up 18 years in active and reserve service.

“I grew up on the south coast of New South Wales, so very much on the water, around HMAS Albatross and there’s a lot of naval bases in that area,” Mr Burgess said.

“I did a bit of work experience in high school at one of the navy bases and decided the navy was the one for me.”

Edmonton RSL president Lieutenant Gordon Burgess who served for 18 years as a warfare officer in the Royal Australian Navy, said it was important to remember the service of all servicemen and women, both those currently serving, and those who paid the ultimate price. Photo: Supplied.

Reflecting on Remembrance Day, Mr Burgess said it was important not only to remember those currently serving or those who paid the ultimate price, but to support servicemen and women when they returned home.

“Remembrance Day is very important for all veterans to come together and remember the ones that have fallen for us in the past, but also to remember our friends that have fallen to battles when they got home,” Mr Burgess said.

“Unfortunately, in 2025, we still are losing veterans, so it’s a good day for us to reflect on veterans that have fought for the country and have paid the ultimate sacrifice, but it’s also important for us to use this time to remember the veterans that didn’t win the battles when they got home.”

RAN Commander Andrew Thorpe, 51st Battalion commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Schieb and RAAF Group Captain Stuart Dowrie each lay a wreath to honour the fallen at the Cairns RSL sub branch Remembrance Day ceremony, held at the Cairns cenotaph on the Esplanade, 2024. Picture: Brendan Radke

He said while there was a lot of emphasis in the national conscience to commemorate Anzac Day, Remembrance Day should not be forgotten.

“A lot of people think that Anzac Day’s the bigger one but I believe for veterans Remembrance Day is because Anzac Day is commemorating a battle that took place, and that’s what we all stop to reflect on,” Mr Burgess said.

“But Remembrance Day should be the day where we’re remembering everyone that’s put a uniform on; we should be honouring (the Anzacs), but we should also be remembering anyone that’s put on the uniform and wants to serve the country.”

Remembrance Day services will be held at various sites across the Far North, and one minute of silence will be observed at 11am.