Centenary of ANZAC 2014 ~ 2018
The Anzac Centenary is a milestone of special significance to all Australians. The First World War helped define us as people and as a nation.
During the Anzac Centenary we will remember not only the original ANZACs who served at Gallipoli and the Western Front, but commemorate more than a century of service by Australian servicemen and women.
The Anzac Centenary Program encompasses all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations in which Australians have been involved.
The Program aims to give all Australians the opportunity to honour the service and sacrifice of all those who have worn our nation’s uniform, including the more than 102,000 who have made the supreme sacrifice.
It also aims to encourage all Australians to reflect upon and learn more about Australia’s military history, its costs and its impacts on our nation.
The Anzac Centenary is a milestone of special significance to all Australians. The First World War helped define us as people and as a nation.
During the Anzac Centenary we will remember not only the original ANZACs who served at Gallipoli and the Western Front, but commemorate more than a century of service by Australian servicemen and women.
The Anzac Centenary Program encompasses all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations in which Australians have been involved.
The Program aims to give all Australians the opportunity to honour the service and sacrifice of all those who have worn our nation’s uniform, including the more than 102,000 who have made the supreme sacrifice.
It also aims to encourage all Australians to reflect upon and learn more about Australia’s military history, its costs and its impacts on our nation.
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ANZAC LANDING...
It was only shortly after the landing that high command let it be known that an error had been made – the landing should have been made on Brighton Beach, south of Anzac Cove and in a locality of relatively friendly topography.
The boat I was in landed on the point. There were three boats to the left of us containing 9th Battalion men, most of whom were killed or wounded in the boat on the extreme left. If Commander Dix states that he was on the extreme right, he is wrong, because the l0th Battalion and one of the 11th were on the right of my boat. I met Drake-Brockman after attacking and reaching the top of the point and he came up from the right side of the hill. The whole of the boats landed between the point and where afterwards the pier was built. My company was on the extreme left of the attack but the 9th Battalion boats landed to the left of us.
It was only shortly after the landing that high command let it be known that an error had been made – the landing should have been made on Brighton Beach, south of Anzac Cove and in a locality of relatively friendly topography.
The boat I was in landed on the point. There were three boats to the left of us containing 9th Battalion men, most of whom were killed or wounded in the boat on the extreme left. If Commander Dix states that he was on the extreme right, he is wrong, because the l0th Battalion and one of the 11th were on the right of my boat. I met Drake-Brockman after attacking and reaching the top of the point and he came up from the right side of the hill. The whole of the boats landed between the point and where afterwards the pier was built. My company was on the extreme left of the attack but the 9th Battalion boats landed to the left of us.
click the image above for a larger view
AN EXCERPT FROM DENIS WINTER'S BOOK,
25 APRIL 1915 - THE INEVITABLE TRAGEDY,
UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND PRESS, 1994.
"The question of who was first ashore became another contentious issue soon after the landing. The Sydney Mail proposed Joseph Stratford, a New South Wales man who had enlisted in Queensland's 9th Battalion and died during the first day. Lismore claimed the honour for its son and a school in Queensland was named after him. But Duncan Chapman, another 9th Battalion man, claimed priority in a letter dated 24 June 1915: "My boat was the first to land and, being in the bow, I was the first man to leap ashore." Bean supported Chapman and mentioned Frank Kemp, a sergeant scout, who corroborated the story. But since the tows landed on both sides of a peninsula with only the dimmest glimmer of dawn to illuminate the scene, it is difficult to discover a solid basis for any claim on this score."
In later years I was to serve as the Secretary of the 9th AIF Association, at the behest of LtCol John Simson, and I took ale many times with Jim Bostock who steadfastly claimed that he was the first ashore on that fateful day. For some more detail see here.
[Maj Peter Newland RFD Retd]
"The question of who was first ashore became another contentious issue soon after the landing. The Sydney Mail proposed Joseph Stratford, a New South Wales man who had enlisted in Queensland's 9th Battalion and died during the first day. Lismore claimed the honour for its son and a school in Queensland was named after him. But Duncan Chapman, another 9th Battalion man, claimed priority in a letter dated 24 June 1915: "My boat was the first to land and, being in the bow, I was the first man to leap ashore." Bean supported Chapman and mentioned Frank Kemp, a sergeant scout, who corroborated the story. But since the tows landed on both sides of a peninsula with only the dimmest glimmer of dawn to illuminate the scene, it is difficult to discover a solid basis for any claim on this score."
In later years I was to serve as the Secretary of the 9th AIF Association, at the behest of LtCol John Simson, and I took ale many times with Jim Bostock who steadfastly claimed that he was the first ashore on that fateful day. For some more detail see here.
[Maj Peter Newland RFD Retd]
The Association proposes to mount a display at the Milne Bay Library and Research Centre at Chermside and also to have the 9th Battalions War Memorial Museum at Enoggera. The specific displays will be openend in 2014 and it is hoped to continue them through 2018. Both venues to be open to the public at selected times to be announced.
The AIF was a volunteer force of civilians who joined up "for the duration of the war plus 4 months". In other words they were there to do a job. Their attitude was, "Let's do the job and go home and get out of this silly bloody uniform". There was no widespread desire at any rank level for a full time army career. Not even at the top level.
There was also a feeling that a man should be measured by his actions not by some baubles on his shoulder boards.What follows is a few bits and pieces I have picked up over the years.
There was also a feeling that a man should be measured by his actions not by some baubles on his shoulder boards.What follows is a few bits and pieces I have picked up over the years.
