By Graham Davis

LSMT Aaron Watson from HMAS Warrnambool at the War Memorial the Darwin Esplanade.

Photo: LSPH Kaye Adams

HMAS Townsville Townsville greets the Anzac Day dawn in the Kimberley’s, conducting a service on the greets the Anzac Day dawn in the Kimberley’s, conducting a service on the forecastle of the ship. forecastle of the ship.

Photo courtesy HMAS Townsville

In far north Queensland, ship’s company from HMAS Cairns march proudly through the city after leaving Munro Park.

Photo courtesy SBLT Russell Toohey

HMAS Wollongong in Broome for Anzac Day.

Photo courtesy HMAS Wollongong

The RAN Band Melbourne at the Shrine of Rememberance in Melbourne during Anzac Day ceremonies.

Photo: ABPH Gavin Hainsworth

Sailors from HMAS Sailors from HMAS Stirling and FBW units march proudly along Adelaide Terrace in Perth for Anzac and FBW units march proudly along Adelaide Terrace in Perth for Anzac Day while an old Digger looks on. Day while an old Digger looks on.

Photo: ABPH Kade Rogers

A member of Catafalque Party from HMAS member of Catafalque Party from HMAS Stirling Stirling stands quietly at the War stands quietly at the War Memorial Rockingham. Memorial Rockingham.

Photo: ABPH Jarrad Oliffe

By Graham Davis Australian sailors, soldiers and air men and women now deployed overseas are “following in the footsteps of the Anzac’s of 89 years ago,” the RAN’s Maritime Commander, RADM Raydon Gates, told a hushed crowd of 12,000 attending the Anzac Dawn Service at the Cenotaph in Sydney.

Earlier, Principal Navy Chaplain, Monsignor Brian Rayner prayed for “peace in our land”.

These messages were echoed by other Navy personnel at Dawn services and remembrance ceremonies, not only around Australia but also on ships at sea and at memorials in far-flung cities and towns.

Several thousand RAN personnel took a very large part in Anzac activities this year. An estimated 30,000 people took to Sydney’s streets for the main march, with crowd numbers up from last year.

The march, watched by 100,000 people from the kerbside plus hundreds of thousands on TV, took three hours and fifty minutes to complete. For the first time, the descendants of First World War veterans formed a distinct group and marched with pride, their great grandfathers’ medals glinting in the bright sunlight.

Today only six World War 1 veterans are alive.

To the south, more than 18,000 people attended the Dawn Service at the Australian War Memorial. In Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Perth and Darwin, thousands marched or watched from the footpath, cheering on the participants.

The ship’s company of the RANs newest warship, HMAS Parramatta took part in Mackay’s Anzac march with Commanding Officer CMDR Mike Noonan, leading his men and women down the main street to the cheers of the local residents.

Members from Parramatta also attended Anzac functions at Kuttabul, Walkeston, Calen, Mirini, Yeppoon and Proserpine. A small group of sailors from the submarine HMAS Rankin, now on its way to South Korea, made the long journey to Cobar in western NSW to attend Anzac activities.

Seven members of FIMA/Sydney went to Gulgong to repair a rotunda in the local park before joining the Anzac march. Northern-based patrol boat HMAS Ipswich came into Ballina to join the activities.

Other Cairns-based ships and their companies were totally committed with HMAS Townsville in Gove, HMAS Tarakan in Bowen, HMAS Whyalla at Malanda and HMAS Brunei at Port Douglas.

Members from HMA Ships Paluma and Mermaid attended the Edge Hill ceremony while officers and sailors from the larger survey ships Melville and Leeuwin attended Kuranda and Ravenshoe.

Last but not least, the detachment of Navy personnel which support the RAN’s only fixed wing aircraft, the LADS Fokker went to Stratford for Anzac Day.

Commanding Officer of HMAS Cairns, CMDR Niel Wark, said the RAN has strong links with the community in the north and looked forward to supporting Anzac Day. Further south, the Queensland centres of Caloundra and Kawana Waters had visits from aircraft and personnel from the Nowra based 816 Seahawk Squadron.

The aviators visited schools and took part in Anzac activities before moving to RAAF Amberley for specialist training. Another Seahawk and seven aviators flew to Mudgee to take part in remembrance activities.

Other aviators and two Seahawks went to Melbourne to take part in the main march in that city and to deliver the match ball for the annual Collingwood versus Essendon Anzac Day game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Two Sea Kings and 20 personnel from 817 Squadron went to Adelaide for the march.

Other members from 817 marched in Sydney. Nowra’s 723 Squadron was very busy with three Squirrels and thirty personnel going to Berridale for the march and ceremonies, while personnel from 805 Squadron and two Super Seasprites went to Merimbula.

Other HMAS Albatross officers and sailors attended Dawn services and or marches at Greenwell Point, Shoalhaven Heads, Bomaderry, Nowra, St Michael’s Catholic Church (Nowra), Callala Beach, Kangaroo Valley, Berry, Moss Vale, Kiama, Oak Flats, Mittagong, Bundanoon and Windang.

Eighty personnel from HMAS Cerberus joined others from the Reserves, RMIT, RAAF East Sale and visiting ships Leeuwin and Norman to form the RAN contingent for the principal march through the streets of central Melbourne. Earlier a Dawn Service had been held at Cerberus.

In Darwin it was a similar scene with uniformed personnel from HMAS Darwin, HMAS Coonawarra and ships then alongside taking part in that city’s march. Smaller groups joined marches in Adelaide and Hobart.

A strong contingent from HMAS Stirling participated in activities in and around Rockingham, Fremantle and Perth.

Anzac Day was not only remembered here in Australia and New Zealand but far and wide.

Services were held in East Timor, the Solomons and on ships at sea. A RAAF F111 did a flyover for the Anzac service in Dunedin, NZ.

 

.