Pride and remembrance

Balmy: Soldiers present arms in Townsville. Photo by Cpl Shane Gidall

Brass: AAB-Perth commemorate Anzac Day. Photo by AB Joanne Edwards

Commemorating with Kiwi cousins: Sig sisters: Sig Natalie Kaminski and Sig Melanie Parker of 7 Sig Regt in front of the RSA clubrooms’ wall of remembrance at Anzac commemorations at Johnsonville RNZRSA Club near Wellington. Sig Natalie Kaminski is in NZ on Tasman Exchange. Photo by Barry Allison

Two-up: American and Australian soldiers play a traditional game of two-up following Anzac Day services the Secdet compound in Baghdad. Photo by Cpl Jamie Osborne

Sombre: Cfn Ashley Boxall of the Al Muthanna Task Group at the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Camp Smitty, Iraq. Photo by Cpl Robert Nyffenegger

This year marked the 90th anniversary of the landing of Anzac troops in Gallipoli. ADF personnel in Australia and around the world paused on Anzac Day to honour those who have died in service of their country.

Light of remembrance: A laster light show thrills onlookers at the Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Anzac commemorative site, Anzac Cove. Photo by PO Damien Pawlenko

Friendship: Gnr Michael Denovan, Pte Gareth Ballantine and Gnr Gareth Goodsir, AFG, meet Turkish veterans at the Turkish Gallipoli memorial. Photo by Cpl Darren Hilder

Parade: Crowds gathered at the National Anzac Day Ceremony in Canberra at the Australian War Memorial. Photo by AB Kade Rogers

Mates: Veterans catch up during the National Anzac Day Ceremony in Canberra. Photo by Kev Piggott

Rocky landing: Pte Adam Marsh pauses at Anzac Cove in Gallipoli. Photo by Cpl Darren Hilder

By Leut Rachel Irving

Dawn at Anzac Cove

IN A crowd of 17,000 people it is hard to imagine it being so quiet you could hear a pin drop, but that’s exactly what it was like Anzac morning in Anzac Cove.

Gathered in the cold dark morning, the atmosphere this year on April 25 at Gallipoli’s Dawn Service was as solemn and sombre as one could ask for in a place where so many lost their lives.

Scattered among the sleeping bags and huddled bodies clinging to each other in an effort to keep warm, lay Australian and New Zealand fl ags ready to fl y proudly.

And in the stands stood 100 proud members of the ship’s company of HMAS Anzac who were lucky enough to be able to join the crowd ashore.

But it was the sight that loomed 1300 yards off the shore at 3am that drew a roar from the crowd. HMAS Anzac sailed into the cove with her entire silhouette and five inch gun lit, as well as two three-metre-high kangaroos lit up on each side.

Even the Prime Minister, John Howard, said later in the day, “To be at Anzac Cove on Anzac Day with HMAS Anzac in the background – well there’s nothing that makes you feel more proud to be an Australian.”

In the Dawn Service Prelude, a sound and light show saw lasers and mist projected across the water creating an eerie effect on the Australian ship, then the lights beamed up onto the ridges and it was easy to see how horrendous the landscape was that the Allied troops fought on.

Ship’s company ashore later moved to the Lone Pine service and then onto the site of one of the beach landings.

It was there the crew met with Prime Minister Howard who awarded an Order of Australia Medal to a Turkish man responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the war graves on the peninsula.

Canberra crowds

AN eerily-lit Australian War Memorial served as a beacon in the darkness for thousands of Canberrans sombrely making their way up Anzac Pde for the dawn service.

ADF Anglican bishop Dr Tom Frame delivered the address. The 10.30am National Ceremony saw ADF supporters from all walks of life remember the sacrifice of our service people. Veterans and serving members marched alongside allied forces, former enemies and school cadets.

– Lt Simone Heyer

In the steps of our forefathers

By Cpl Cameron Jamieson

IT WAS an Anzac Day dawn ceremony with a difference. As the sun slowly dawned over Camp Smitty, the wind and sand drove across the parade ground, providing a surreal haze to the sanctity of the service.

Gathered together around the helipad-turned parade ground, the Australian, British and Japanese soldiers listened to the story of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli, and how three nations present had worked together in WWI.

For the Australians, the story of Anzac is the story of their nation. For the assembled British soldiers from the 2nd Battalion Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment (PWRR), it was the story of their forbears who fell at the main landing site at the tip of the Gallipoli peninsular.

For the Japanese, it was a story of cooperation that saw the Japanese Imperial Navy help escort the first troop convoy of Australians to Egypt – the same troops who went on to land at Gallipoli.

The ceremony was jointly planned and conducted by the PWRR and the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG).

RSM Al Muthanna Task Group, WO1 Robert Aboud, said the ability to commemorate Anzac Day while on operations in Iraq was a unique experience for many of the AMTG soldiers.

“Anzac Day is an important day for all Australians because it’s such a strong part of our national identity and popular culture,” he said.

“As Australians, commemorating Anzac Day here makes the occasion very special and unique, and I think it will be a day that all the boys will remember for a long, long time.

WO1 Aboud said the presence of the British soldiers value-added to the occasion.

“It was great to commemorate Anzac Day with them because once again we are serving together overseas to achieve a common goal,” he said.

“It also brings home to the young soldiers that it wasn’t just Australian and New Zealanders in that campaign.

“They were part of a much larger campaign, which involved soldiers from many different nations, and they all suffered casualties in the Gallipoli campaign.”