The origin of the Last Post -

Paul Bryant

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If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which The Last Post was played;
This brings out a new meaning of it.

Here is something everyone should know.

Until I read this, I didn't know,


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.

Reportedly, it all 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.

The Captain had asked if he could have 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. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform.

This wish was granted.

The haunting melody, we now know as 'The Last Post' used at military funerals was 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

I too have felt the chills while listening to 'The Last Post'
But I have never seen all the words to the song until now.
I didn't even know there was more than one verse .
I also never knew the story behind the song and I didn't know if
You had either so I thought I'd pass it along.

I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before.

Remember Those Lost and Harmed While Serving Their Country.

Also Remember Those Who Have Served And Returned;
And for those presently serving in the Armed Forces.


Please send this on.
 
Paul,

The ceremonial music played at an American service mans funeral is known as 'Taps'
Daniel Butterfield, a Union general in the U.S. Civil War, changed the ceremonial bugle call for fallen soldiers in July 1862. Known as Taps or Butterfield’s Lullaby, the tune became a standard component to military funerals and was formerly recognized by the U.S. military in 1874.
USA version is called 'Taps' and UK version 'Last Post' The words differ for both too.
The melody replaced a French bugle call that used to signal lights out for soldiers. As the tale goes, Butterfield thought the bugle call was too formal to honour the men who died in battle. He worked with brigade bugler Oliver Wilcox Norton to develop a more haunting melody, which distinguishes it from The Last Post.

That is a wonderfully romantic story though and I dare say that an event such as that described has probably taken place at some time.

The 'Last Post' has a remarkable history of it origin too:

In military tradition, the Last Post is the bugle call that signifies the end of the day’s activities.
It is also sounded at military funerals and commemorative services such as ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day to indicate that the soldier has gone to his final rest.
The Last Post is one of a number of bugle calls in military tradition that mark the phases of the day. While Reveille signalled the start of a soldier’s day, the Last Post signalled its end.

The call is believed originally to have been part of a more elaborate routine, known in the British Army as “tattoo”, that had its origins in the 17th century.

In the evening, a duty officer had to do the rounds of his unit’s position, checking that the sentry posts were manned and rounding up the off-duty soldiers and packing them off to their beds or billets. He would be accompanied by one or more musicians.

The first post was sounded when the duty officer started his rounds and, as the party proceeded from post to post, a drum was played. The drum beats told off-duty soldiers it was time to rest; if the soldiers were billeted in a town, the beats told them it was time to quit the pubs.

“Tattoo” is a derivation of doe den tap toe, Dutch for “turn off the taps”, a call which is said to have followed the drum beats in Dutch pubs while British armies were campaigning through Holland and Flanders in the 1690s.* (The American practice of “taps” or “drum taps” also originated from the routine.)

Another bugle call was sounded when the party completed its rounds, reaching the “last post” – this signalled the night sentries were alert at their posts and gave one last warning to any soldiers still at large to retire for the evening.

The Last Post was eventually incorporated into funeral and memorial services as a final farewell, and symbolises the duty of the dead is over and they can rest in peace.
* I believe this to be 1790*

At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
 
There is a lot more to the story, that is just a basic synopsis. The music to the Last Post is widely recognised to have been composed by Josef Haydn 1732–1809 hence my doubt at the date of conception as 1690. I hope this is an interesting post for all those concerned as there always seems to be 'hidden facts' behind every story. REspect to all concerned.
 
I attend a lot of services at National cemeteries and have been to many funerals for active and veteran folks. At the bigger events such as Memorial day, the sound that always brings out the tears from my eyes is the ghost bugler.
 
I've only had to attend the service once for a fallen comrade but the Remembrance Parade is but once a year, and a very moving occasion. I have been invited to attend the Cenotaph in London and join the parade with the Corps association but never managed to make it for one reason or another. The local smaller ceremonies always seem so much more serene and personal, the bigger events appear more detached and just for the spectacle. The sound of the bugler is indeed a really moving sound, and as @Boog says, brings out the Kleenex by the handful!!
 
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