The men and women of our farflung
Empire working in their several vocations, with the one same purpose,
all are members of the great Family of Nations which is prepared to sacrifice
everything that freedom of spirit may be saved to the world.
Such is the spirit of the Empire; of the great Dominions, of India, of every
Colony, large or small. From all alike have come offers of help, for which the
Mother Country can never be sufficiently grateful. Such unity in aim and in
effort has never been seen in the world before.
I believe from my heart that the cause which binds together my peoples and
our gallant and faithful Allies is the cause of Christian civilisation. On no other
basis can a true civilisation be built.
Let us remember this through the dark times ahead of us and when we are
making the peace for which all men pray.
A new year is at hand. We cannot tell what it will bring. If it brings peace, how
thankful we shall all be. If it brings us continued struggle we shall remain
undaunted.
In the meantime I feel that we may all find a message of encouragement in
the lines which, in my closing words, I would like to say to you: 'I said to the
man who stood at the Gate of the Year, "Give me a light that I may tread
safely into the unknown." And he replied, "Go out into the darkness, and put
your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light, and
safer than a known way."'
May that Almighty Hand guide and uphold us all.