28 April 2025
As the last notes echoed through Amiens Cathedral in France, Musician Able Seaman Francis Piccin stood with quiet pride, his euphonium resting at his side.
The Royal Australian Navy Band had just performed Able Seaman Piccin’s original composition N’oublions Jamais L’Australie – Never Forget Australia, a heartfelt tribute to Anzac sacrifice.
Sung by vocalist Leading Seaman Maggie James, the piece moved an audience of more than 600 people, capturing the spirit of camaraderie and the enduring bond between Australia and France.
“Having read about Villers-Bretonneux, I was so moved that I wrote a song about it,” Able Seaman Piccin said.
“European lives were saved because people were willing to give their lives.”
Petty Officer Christopher Palamountain had arranged the score for the band, helping Able Seaman Piccin bring his vision to life in one of France’s most historic cathedrals.
Born in Alsace-Lorraine in France, a territory seized by Germany in 1870 and restored to France after the First World War, Able Seaman Piccin’s return in uniform bore profound resonance.
That shift, Able Seaman Piccin reflected, shaped his very existence.
“Had that not happened, I might have never existed, let alone stood here in uniform, honouring Australia in the country of my birth,” he said.
Able Seaman Piccin moved to Australia as a child, and returning as a sailor and musician held deep meaning, connecting past to present.
“I get an immense joy being able to represent Australia here in my home country of France – it’s really special,” he said.
“Being here it’s almost like it brings my two worlds together – my love for Australia and my love for France.”
The connection ran deeper still – his grandfather Renè Ernest Boisnier had served on the Western Front, earning a number of medals including a Medal of Honour.
“I say this in a respectful way – the excitement of being here is that my grandfather served not far from where we’re visiting,” Able Seaman Piccin said.
In that moment, Able Seaman Piccin’s music became more than melody, it became a sailor’s tribute to the past, carried forward in harmony.
