Chaps,
I have posted some pictures of some of my collection on display during our ANZAC Day commemoration on 25 April. I don't know if any other countries have anything quite like ANZAC Day. I'd certainly like to hear about it if you do.
ANZAC Day commemorates the day of the landing of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC Corps) on Gallipoli Peninsula on 25 April 1915. This was the first time, since federation in 1901, that the Australian Army and the New Zealanders had gone into a major conflict. Although Gallipoli was a bit of a stalemate it holds a very special place in the Australian culture. Of course the ANZACs went on to achieve some outstanding feats on the Western Front in 1916-1918, including Pozieres, Mouquet Farm, Messines, Broodseinde, Passchendaele, playing a major part in halting the Michael Offensive of March 1918, Villers-Brettoneaux, Hamel. The Australians and Canadians spearheaded the great British offensive at Amiens, 8 August 1918 'der Schwarztag'', then Mont St Quentin, and the breaching of the Hindenburg Line.
For Australia and New Zealand, like Britain and Canada, our losses in WW1 exceed the losses in all the other wars of the twentieth century put together
On ANZAC Day each year, the whole country commemorates both the first ANZACs, and the sacrifices of servicemen and servicewomen in all wars. most people attend a 'Dawn Service' at around 04:45AM. This starts with rum and coffee, then a commemorative service, then a 'gunfire breakfast', then traditional soldiers games like 'Two Up ' and Çrown and Anchor''. At around 10:00 am, in just about every city in the country, the war veterans march through the streets under their old unit banners, along with formations of serving soldiers, then off to the pubs and clubs for a few beers. The whole country effectively comes to a standstill on ANZAC Day.
I have been to many countries and certainly the USA and most of the commonwealth countries commemorate Rememberance Day (US Veteran's Day) on 11 November just as we do, but I have never seen any commemoration of 'the soldier' quite like it is done on ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand.
At my unit, we held the Dawn Service and then folks were free to play the soldiers games etc. I had also set up a portion of my collection as a display in the soldiers club for people to view. The attached photos show the display. Some of the highlights:
A German uniform with greatcoat Stahlhandgranate and Gew 98, circa 1917
An Australian Light Horse uniform, privately tailored in Egypt and belonging to LT Albert Edward Christie of 4th Light Horse Regiment.
An AFC/RFC uniform belonging to CAPT Edward Fearnley Rowntree, 3rd Sqn AFC.
An AFC Cold weather flying jacket, cowl and goggles
Á complete French uniform circa 1914 of the 133rd Infantry Regiment ( I had to equip him with a M1874 Gras as I do not have a M1886 Lebel)
An Australian infantryman's uniform and equipment, 8th battalion AIF circa 1917 (again I did not have a No 1 Mk 3 SMLE, so I gave him a Boer War era Mark 1 LE).
Australian slouch hats from the Boer War, WW1 and WW2.
A Mauser Kar 98 AZ
A Japanese flag captured by 2/7 Battalion 2AIF, at Kiarivu New Guinea August 1945.
Plus examples of equipment and weapons from the Boer War, WW1 and WW2.
This is perhaps half of my uniforms, 10% of my helmets and 10% of my antique firearms.
Mike
I have posted some pictures of some of my collection on display during our ANZAC Day commemoration on 25 April. I don't know if any other countries have anything quite like ANZAC Day. I'd certainly like to hear about it if you do.
ANZAC Day commemorates the day of the landing of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC Corps) on Gallipoli Peninsula on 25 April 1915. This was the first time, since federation in 1901, that the Australian Army and the New Zealanders had gone into a major conflict. Although Gallipoli was a bit of a stalemate it holds a very special place in the Australian culture. Of course the ANZACs went on to achieve some outstanding feats on the Western Front in 1916-1918, including Pozieres, Mouquet Farm, Messines, Broodseinde, Passchendaele, playing a major part in halting the Michael Offensive of March 1918, Villers-Brettoneaux, Hamel. The Australians and Canadians spearheaded the great British offensive at Amiens, 8 August 1918 'der Schwarztag'', then Mont St Quentin, and the breaching of the Hindenburg Line.
For Australia and New Zealand, like Britain and Canada, our losses in WW1 exceed the losses in all the other wars of the twentieth century put together
On ANZAC Day each year, the whole country commemorates both the first ANZACs, and the sacrifices of servicemen and servicewomen in all wars. most people attend a 'Dawn Service' at around 04:45AM. This starts with rum and coffee, then a commemorative service, then a 'gunfire breakfast', then traditional soldiers games like 'Two Up ' and Çrown and Anchor''. At around 10:00 am, in just about every city in the country, the war veterans march through the streets under their old unit banners, along with formations of serving soldiers, then off to the pubs and clubs for a few beers. The whole country effectively comes to a standstill on ANZAC Day.
I have been to many countries and certainly the USA and most of the commonwealth countries commemorate Rememberance Day (US Veteran's Day) on 11 November just as we do, but I have never seen any commemoration of 'the soldier' quite like it is done on ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand.
At my unit, we held the Dawn Service and then folks were free to play the soldiers games etc. I had also set up a portion of my collection as a display in the soldiers club for people to view. The attached photos show the display. Some of the highlights:
A German uniform with greatcoat Stahlhandgranate and Gew 98, circa 1917
An Australian Light Horse uniform, privately tailored in Egypt and belonging to LT Albert Edward Christie of 4th Light Horse Regiment.
An AFC/RFC uniform belonging to CAPT Edward Fearnley Rowntree, 3rd Sqn AFC.
An AFC Cold weather flying jacket, cowl and goggles
Á complete French uniform circa 1914 of the 133rd Infantry Regiment ( I had to equip him with a M1874 Gras as I do not have a M1886 Lebel)
An Australian infantryman's uniform and equipment, 8th battalion AIF circa 1917 (again I did not have a No 1 Mk 3 SMLE, so I gave him a Boer War era Mark 1 LE).
Australian slouch hats from the Boer War, WW1 and WW2.
A Mauser Kar 98 AZ
A Japanese flag captured by 2/7 Battalion 2AIF, at Kiarivu New Guinea August 1945.
Plus examples of equipment and weapons from the Boer War, WW1 and WW2.
This is perhaps half of my uniforms, 10% of my helmets and 10% of my antique firearms.
Mike
