ANZAC DAY 2020

Today is Anzac Day.

At dawn, we joined Australians across the country in a unique ceremony -

we stood outside our homes, holding candles or torches, for a commemorative service broadcast across the land.

Unable to participate in the usual marches, ceremonies and church services, Australians devised their own way of remembering the Fallen, as they have done every year since 1916.

The silence was broken only by the sound of the Last Post echoing down our hill.

It was haunting and beautiful...

The original Anzacs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) served in the Middle East and Europe in World War I.  From a population of under five million, Australia sent almost 500,000 men.  62,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded or taken prisoner.

We will remember them.

George W Lambert, Australia/England 1873-1930: 'Walk (An incident at Romani) 1919-22, Oil on canvas. QAGOMA

This painting from the collection of the Queensland Art Gallery depicts an incident from 1916 during the Battle of Romani.  An Australian 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, sent to retrieve the seriously wounded, came under Turkish fire.  The horses started to bolt, but the corporal signalled 'Walk', riding to front to steady the teams.  The horses were calmed, the enemy recognised the Ambulance's mission and averted fire.  For their bravery and composure, the corporal and drivers were awarded Military medals.

The artist, George W. Lambert served as an Official War Artist attached to the ANZAC Mounted Division, and served in Palestine, Gallipoli and Egypt.

The Australian Light Horse units were mounted infantry who brought their own horses from Australia.  The Field Ambulance used 'sand carts' : they had two wheels with tyres wide enough to stop the cart digging into soft sand.  In heavy sand four horses were necessary.

After the War, in 1919, Lambert was commissioned to paint this incident, three years after the event.  A re-enactment was staged in Egypt, and photographs were taken of Lambert sketching the cart for his painting.

My paternal grandfather served in the Light Horse with two of his brothers.  They trained in Egypt after sailing from Australia.  My grandfather was then sent on to France and served in Flanders with a medical unit, driving a mule cart into the battle fields to retrieve the wounded.  Here are his medals:

Grandfather survived the war,  went on to London and married an English girl before returning to Australia.  Their first child was my father.

Naturally, I have made Anzac biscuits to enjoy today.  This oat and syrup treat was sent by loving wives and girlfriends across the world to the soldiers, and their spirit lives on in Australian kitchens to this day.

LEST WE FORGET

XXX