Soldiers of the 53rd Battalion, Australian 5th
Division, waiting to attack during the Battle of Fromelles, July 19, 1916. Only
three of the men shown survived the attack and those three were wounded.
(AWM A03042)
April 25th is ANZAC Day and whilst that
date is the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, today ANZAC Day is used to
commemorate and remember the Australian and New Zealand military personnel who
served in all wars.
ANZAC Day 2015 recalled the centenary of the landings at
Gallipoli, which later ended with the retreat in December 1915. During that campaign the losses were devastating:
Australia 8709 killed, 19,441 wounded
New Zealand 2721 killed, 4752 wounded
Britain 21,255 killed, 52,230 wounded
Total Allies 43,921 killed, 97,112 wounded and
Turkey 86,692 killed, 164,617 wounded.
ANZAC Day 2016 commemorates and remembers the Australian and
New Zealand military personnel who fought in the bloodbath of Western France,
especially the Battles of the Somme in July 1916. If the casualties in
Gallipoli were devastating, the death toll in Western France was truly horrific:
Australia 23,000 casualties (killed & wounded) in 45 days,
including 5,533 casualties in a single day at Fromelles
New Zealand 7,408 casualties
Total Allies 623,907 casualties and
Germany 465,000 casualties.
The utter waste is beyond belief for virtually nil gain on
the ground.
Commemoration
Services in our area
Dawn Services
- Oxenford/Maudsland/Upper Coomera – Memorial Park beside the CWA hall, Maudsland Road, 5:30am start, breakfast afterwards.
- Helensvale RSL – Park beside Club Helensvale, Discovery Drive, 5:20am, breakfast afterwards.
Citizens Parade and
Service
- Commences at Upper Coomera School of Arts Hall, Reserve Road at 9:00am with a Memorial Service at the Cenotaph on Oxenford-Tamborine Road at 9:30.
They shall not grow 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.
Please take the time out of your day to remember those who
have gone before us.
Senior Sergeant Andrew Lake.
Police Liaison Officer, Oxenford NHW
