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Just a little update. Helps getting it off the chest.
The funeral was so fitting and what he deserved. The whole town and many people from near and far turned up - standing room only in the 300 seat town hall. Wonderful eulogies from my father, sister and cousin. His solid jarrah (high polish!!!!) coffin was draped in the red ensign, and the top was adorned with the slouch hat with emu plume. My dear old grandmother was so strong, so resilient. I am sure she will break down eventually, but for now she is going a million miles an hour.
The funeral itself was moving with the lone Light Horseman standing at attention at arms, in full regalia and rifle for the entire time (it was confirmed my Grandfather was the last remaining 5th ALH member and one of the very last surviving WW2 veterans from the area). I laid another slouch hat on his coffin to be interned with him (RSL approved).
In the afternoon, at the going down of the Sun, all male members of his close family gathered on the family farm, where we each fired a volley of 5 rounds of .303 (dated 1942) through my 1943 Lithgow Lee Enfield SMLE III*. The hills around resounded to the report as the Sun set in the west... And then the hills fell silent.
Rest well Gordon John Burnett Maynard.
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