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THE haunting sounds of a lone Air Force piper rang out across Gallipoli this Anzac Day – 91 years after young Australian and New Zealand troops made their fateful landing at Anzac Cove.

As the sun rose over the crowded beach, up to 10,000 people paid tribute to those brave Anzacs with the traditional Dawn Service. The atmosphere was still emotion-charged at Lone Pine later that morning as more gathered for the Australian Memorial Service.

There, SQNLDR Steve Wright was the first Air Force piper to have the honour of playing the piper’s lament. He described his own role as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

This year’s solemn commemorations involved a significant Air Force contribution, with 15 members of the Central Band making the journey to Gallipoli with colleagues from Australia’s Federation Guard.

Led by SQNLDR Wright, the band’s Commanding Officer and conductor, the Air Force members provided musical support during both Anzac Day services.

Throughout the night of the 24th, the 15 Air Force members played a selection of songs from 1915 as part of a larger interpretive display of music, poems, diary readings and video clips, as the scene was set for the following day’s commemorations.

SQNLDR Wright said he and his Central Band members were somewhat awe-inspired being in Gallipoli, yet focused on the important task entrusted to them.

“The Dawn Service was evocative of the moment the Australians landed on the beach,” he said.

“It was the same location and the same time of day, which made it more possible than ever for us to imagine their frame of mind.”

“There was very much a fine balance between professionalism and emotion. We couldn’t be too emotional because we had a job to do, but we couldn’t only be professional because emotion was so important in truly experiencing and savouring the moment.”

WHILE dawn commemorations of Anzac Day were observed around the world, in Honiara they remembered them at the going down of the sun.

At dusk, a handful of Air Force members, surrounded by Australian and New Zealand soldiers and members of the participating police force, stood proudly at a catafalque overlooking the ocean.

Commander 635 LTCOL Andrew Gallaway said because of the operational tempo of the RAMSI forces, a Dawn Service couldn’t be held. Taskings had eased by the afternoon and time was set aside to commemorate the important day.

However, an unofficial Dawn Service was held at Henderson Airfield, home to air load teams from 1 Air Terminal Squadron.

SGT Lucy Foster, supervisor of the air load team, said it was her second Anzac Day on deployment, but it’s a day she never forgets to observe.

“It’s a special day, I never miss an Anzac Day,” she said.

LAC Gene Wills, an ADG part of 4 Rifle Flight, said he was especially proud to be on deployment on Anzac Day.
“We’re repaying what others before us have done,” he said.

The day was particularly poignant for soldiers in country who remember PTE Jamie Clark, who was killed on operation in the Solomon Islands in March last year.

As the sun set, the Regimental Sergeant Major released the forces and said “though you won’t be enjoying a beer, there’s time for that when you get home”.

STEEPED in tradition, the Last Post and Reveille have the power to blanket large crowds in complete silence, and to bring tears to the eyes of generations of Australians and New Zealanders.

No less immune to the gravity of the music are a handful of the men responsible for its delivery this year.

Central Band Members CPL Ben Mansted, LAC Michael Fraser and CPL John Collinson and Air Command Band members CPL Brenton Burley and CPL Brendon Tasker. CPL Steve Temple did the honours in the Middle East.

The musicians took a moment to talk to Air Force News.