Anzac Day 2024

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them."

Lest We Forget

The 'Ode of Remembrance' comes from the poem "For the Fallen", written by Laurence Binyon.

These words are spoken at war memorials - the big and the small - all across Australia and New Zealand, and around the world at Gallipoli in Turkey, France, New Guinea and many other places on Anzac Day - 25th April - the anniversary of the dawn landing at Gallipoli in 1915 - the day that we have set aside to remember those who lost their lives or have come home damaged from war. 

I believe it is Australia's most important national day. 

Every year we go to the Dawn Service to remember two family members who we have never met but who are part of the reason we live in the freedom of Australian as we do. 

Norman Clayden - my great uncle who was killed at Gallipoli on 27th April 1915, just two days after the beach landing - aged 19 - no known grave.

As well as his name on the Lone Pine memoral at Gallipoli, and the Perth War Memorial in Western Australia, we last year found his name on the memorial at Pingelly in the Western Australia wheatbelt, from where he enlisted. He looks so proud in his uniform this photo.

And my husband's uncle Richard Ramsden who died in a prisoner of war camp in Myanmar (Burma) on 29th October 1943 in World War 2 - aged 23 - buried at Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Mynanma - a place where his family have never been able to visit. We only just recently learnt about some of what he might have gone through as a wounded and sick captured soldier who was forced to work.

Two young men cut down in their prime. What a waste. With the wars still going on around the world, it is obvious we have learnt nothing.

We are grateful to the people who look after these resting places far across the oceans.

I have shared some of this before in different ways -

Anzac Day 2022

Anxac Day 2019 - Field of Lights, Albany

Remote Anzac Sunrise Reminders - 2023

Gallipoli and Anzac Day 2021

Thank you so much for stopping by. Do you have an Anzac Day commemoration where you live? Is there someone you remember on that day?

I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

Mosaic Monday @ Soul & Mind & So On

Saturdays Critters - Viewing Nature With Eileen

Inspire Me Monday

Travel Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

Talking About It Tuesdays @ Slices of Life

ThroughMy Lens 
Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity. 
       and Little bird - Pienilintu
Thankful Thursday 
Welcome to Nature Thursday

Skywatch Friday

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

Until then, enjoy your day... it won't be back.

Gallipoli and Anzac Day - 25 April

 25 April is Anzac Day for Australian's and New Zealanders. 

“ANZAC” was the name given to a combined force of First Australian Imperial Force and New Zealand Army troops who landed on Turkey’s Gallipoli Peninsula at around dawn on Sunday, the 25th day of April, 1915, barely nine months after the outbreak of World War I.

Once again we remembered this national day and the sacrifices of so many in smaller gatherings due to the continuing Covid pandemic. This year as last year, we held a small service at dawn at the end of our street.

At the beginning of the service this year I read this poem I found on the internet. Written by Miss MG Meugens, she wrote poetry about the Great War and was published in magazines and newspapers of the time, and in a couple of anthologies.  The poem below was published in Country Life magazine in England. 

This photo below is from the National Museum of Australia. If you are ever in Canberra you should visit the Australian War Memorial and it's huge collection of artefacts and historical documents. 

I couldn't find out much about Miss MG Meugens, but as my great-uncle was killed at Gallipoli on 27 April 1915 at the age of 19, only a few days into the conflict, the poem touched a special cord with me. He is one of the fallen who still lay in an unmarked grave at Gallipoli. He looks so young and proud in these two photos. Sadly his future was cut short. 

I've written about Anzac Day many times before:

Anzac Day 2020 

Anzac Day 2019

Anzac Day 2018

Anzac Day 2017

This painting of a soldier carrying his wounded mate is part of the new Collie street art trail which we visited on the weekend. I hope to bring you more about the Collie Mural Trail soon. 

Country Life magazine was founded by Edward Burgess Hudson in 1897.  The magazine is still in print today. You can search vantage back copies here. 

.For more poems about World War 1 click here

For more about Anzac Day click here

Thank you so much for stopping by. I have a very busy week ahead getting ready for my art market at the Dardanup Art Spectacular and Art Trail this weekend 1-2 May. 

I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
   
All Seasons
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf
Sharon's Sovenirs 
Our World Tuesday
Pictorial Tuesday 
ThroughMy Lens 
Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity. 
       and Little bird - Pienilintu
Thankful Thursday 
Der-Natur-Thursday 
The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit
 Month end link up @ Live love craft me
Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

Anzac Day - 25th April - Field of Lights, Albany

On 25 April, in Australia and New Zealand, at war memorials in small towns and big cities, on the shores of Gallipoli and in France, and places all over the world where Australians and New Zealanders gather we commemorate Anzac Day.  This day was chosen to remember our war dead as it was the day that the Allied forces landed at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, Turkey, 25 April, 1915. 

 The nine-month campaign resulted in the death of more than 133,400 troops -  47,400 allied troops and 86,000 Ottoman soldiers. This total included 8,700 Australians, and 2,700 New Zealanders, 2700 British Empire (other than Aust & NZ), 9000 French and French colonial troops.  Aust Dept of Veteran Affairs

I've blogged about Anzac Day before, and how on this day in particular I remember my Great-Uncle Norman Clayden who died at Gallipoli on 27 April 1915 (aged 19 - no known grave), and my husband's uncle Richard Ramsden who died in a prisoner of war camp in Myanmar (Burma) on 29th October 1943 in World War 2.  (aged 23 - buried at
Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Myanma)

Australian War Memorial, Canberra

Over 100 thousand Australians have died in conflicts since the Boer War.  In the light of recent tragedies, bombings, shootings, on the streets and in churches and places of worship around the world and the fighting between religious sects, I feel this message even more..... please God...that the sacrifices have not been in vain. 

However, I fear we have not learnt from the death and destruction of the past. I don't understand why we can't live in peace. Why we can't accept each others differences in race and religion. We all make up the wonderful diverse fabric of the world. We should celebrate and embrace this diversity instead of trying to stamp out our rights to freedom of thought and action.  Isn't this freedom what they fought for? Doesn't every race have the right to this freedom?

In February we had the opportunity to see "The Field of Lights" Avenue of Honour on Mt Clarence in Albany on Western Australia's south coast. This art installation, created with 16,000 lights by Bruce Munro pays homage to the 41,000 troops who departed from Albany on their way to World War 1. For some Albany would be their last view of Australia.

My photos can't possibly give you the feeling of walking along the avenue and viewing the lights which have been placed between the trees leading up to Albany's war memorial.  It really is a moving experience. An audio helps tell the story. 

Bruce has installed other lights displays around the world. You can hear Bruce talk about the Albany project by clicking here and then scroll down to the video - Field of Light - About the Project

Even during the day the field was moving to see. The avenue of trees was planted in 1955-56. There are plaques for locals who have died in military conflicts or as a result of conflicts.

Also on Mt Clarence you can visit the National Anzac Centre. It is well worth a visit - allow several hours.  The centre and the lookout you see in the images below overlooks the harbour from where the ships departed.

For more information:
Field of Light, Albany
National Anzac Centre, Albany
Gallipoli and the Anzacs - Department of Veteran Affairs, Australia

At the Dawn Service on Anzac Day I will remember them, and pray for peace. 

You might also like to visit my previous posts with more of the story:
 Anzac Day - we will remember them
25th April - Anzac Day - when we remember them
Anzac Day 25th April 
25 April - Anzac Day - We will remember them

Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

All Seasons
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

ThroughMy Lens 

Image-in-ing
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity.
Travel Photo Thursday 

The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit
Little Things Thursday
Friday Bliss at Floral Passions

I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

On Anzac Day we will remember them

25th April - is Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand.

"ANZAC Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day we remember all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The spirit of ANZAC, with its human qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity".

To read more - click here - www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/anzac/

In January we visited our national capital, Canberra. The images below are from the Australian War Memorial - it is also a museum which is an amazing place to visit - and I encourage all Australian's to visit at least once in their life time - and allow at least one whole day to see it. The museum takes you through all the various conflicts up to the present day that Australians have been involved in - and gives you an insight into what our "diggers" went through and the thousands and thousands of lives that have been lost.

On the wall of remembrance you can place a poppy next to the name of loved ones who lost their lives in war.

We found the name of my great-uncle Norman Albert Clayden who lost his life in Gallipoli on 2 May 1915 (aged 19), and
my husbands uncle, Richard Ramsden who died as a prisoner of war on 29 October 1943 in Burma (aged 23).

As they are both buried overseas, at Lone Pine in Gallipoli and at Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery in Myanmar (Burma), it was wonderful to be able to place a poppy next to their name at the Canberra War Memorial.

..........

Tomorrow morning we will go to the Dawn Service in Bunbury which is an event that happens on Anzac Day all around the country in cities and towns, overseas where servicemen are still serving, where Australians and New Zealanders gather, at memorials in France, and on the shores of Gallipoli  where thousands go every Anzac Day to honour and remember.

The statue below is a copy of one originally forming part of a memorial which was erected at Port Said, Egypt, and unveiled on 23 November 1932, to remember members of the Australian Light Horse, New Zealand Mounted Rifles, the Imperial Camel Corps, and the Australian Flying Corps, who lost their lives in Egypt, Palestine, and Syria 1916-1918.  The statue was irreparably damaged during the Suez crisis in 1956.  The remnants were brought to Australia and two bronze replicas were made, the first erected in Albany, Western Australia in 1964. The second is this one in Canberra.

The memorial in Albany has been part of my consciousness all my life - and I have always been in awe of the image that the statue portrays of the two servicemen and their horses. Albany was the place from where Australian troops left on their way to fight in World War 1. For many thousands it was the last time they were to be on Australian soil.

Also on display in Canberra was one of the bronze horse heads from the original memorial, and now forming a memorial  to "Animals in War". For those who have seen the wonderful movie "War Horse", it is heart warming that a memorial has been erected in their memory.

Update - ANZAC Day - 25 April 2012

Images from this morning's Dawn Service in Bunbury

 After visiting Canberra, and researching and learning more about Norman and Richard, I found the Dawn Service even more moving and poignant as I thought about these two young men and the circumstances under which they died so far from home and how it must have affected their mother's and families.

Following the Dawn Service in Bunbury we were blessed with this beautiful sunrise - it was a timely reminder of all that we have to be thankful and grateful for.....

My sincere thanks to Flickr contact Stewart Glasson who took the time to research and send me links from The War Graves Photographic Project - click on the link here if you want to do research of your own - War Graves Photographic Project
which has lead us to more information about Norman and Richard - including an actual photo of Richard's grave site, and information about the Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery in Myanmar and background information and history about the war years and the people who are buried there.
We sincerely thank you.