Spirit of Anzac still as relevant today

Below is the oration, read by Narrabri RSL Sub-branch president Gary Mason OAM at the Narrabri West dawn service.

On this day, in the darkness, before dawn, the Anzacs stormed ashore in Turkey at a place now known as Anzac Cove. It was our first major contribution to the world as a nation.

Two thousand Anzacs were dead by the end of that day, but through perseverance, courage and comradeship they held their ground.

It was certainly a baptism of fire.

At Lone Pine, seven Victoria Crosses were awarded to Australians.

We should never forget the deeds, courage and fortitude of these original Anzacs.

The Gallipoli campaign involved many countries but it had a powerful and lasting impact on three in particular Turkey, Australia and New Zealand. Each was a fledgling nation. At the time Australia and New Zealand were only recently independent from the British Empire and Turkey was still emerging from the Ottoman Empire.

For each, the Gallipoli campaign was a crusade and at the same time, a national rite of passage, all three countries emerged with enhanced international reputations, each now regards the calamitous event of 1915 as a coming of age in its growth and maturity.

The tragic irony of the campaign is that, if handled properly, it could have been a victory for the Allies. Alas in the end it ranks as one of the bloodiest military engagements in history, where two armies, each of around 500,000 men fought to a standstill each losing approximately half their strength in casualties.

These Anzacs and many thousands of other men and women went on to fight in frightful battles in Europe, where small village names are etched in our history. Such as Fromelles, Bullecourt and Mont St Quentin to name a few.

We remember the terrible losses of the trench war in Europe and the brilliant victories of General Sir John Monash and the Australian Corps in France.

Some people think that World WWI, the Great War as it was known, has no significance today. I ask you to bear this in mind. The population of Australia between 1914 to 1919 was approximately 4.9 million. 417,000 Australians enlisted for service in WWI, representing 39 per cent of the male population aged 18 to 44. Of these 60,000 died and 152,000 were wounded and 4000 were taken prisoner. I always think of the families waiting at home hoping their loved ones will return home safely. These statistics are horrific and its no wonder we repeat the words Lest We Forget every day in RSL Clubs and other gatherings throughout Australia.

Of course, there are many other names from other wars where Australian lives were lost in the cause of for better world.

The ranks of our World War II veterans and those who served in the Pacific are dwindling, but their sacrifices and the impact they had on our nation shall never be forgotten. Like those who served in the Great War, we will remember those who served when war came to Australian shores.

We remember the airmen who flew in hazardous missions over Europe. The gallant pilots who fought in the victory at Milne Bay. Where they assisted the Army to turn back the invading Japanese. To Australia’s credit this was the first time in the Pacific War that a Japanese land force had been forced to retreat. The second Japanese retreat was due to the bravery of Australian diggers fighting on the Kokoda Track.

We remember the sailors and submariners who were away from home for long periods on hazardous missions fighting to keep the vital sea lanes open.

The tragic loss of HMAS Sydney in 1941 along with her 645 crew. We should never forget the 22,000 Australian servicemen and women who were captured by the Japanese. By the war’s end more than one in three of these prisoners – about 8000 – had died. Most were victims of Japanese brutality.

Later Australians fought with distinction in Korea and the battle of Kapyong springs immediately to mind. We took part in campaigns such as Borneo and Malaya.

In the Vietnam War, 46,000 Australian men and women served. Some volunteers and some conscripts, but they all carried on the Anzac tradition. 523 were KIA and 3505 wounded.
Let us not forget more recent conflicts including Sinai, Namibia, Bougainville, Rwanda, East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq. To date we have lost 59 Australian Defence Force members in these conflicts. In the Afghanistan conflict alone we lost 42 Killed in Action with a further 262 wounded.

This was brought closer to home on August 30, 2012 when we tragically lost Private Nathanael Galagher, one of our own Pilliga boys.

We shall always remember him.

On Anzac Day we also pay tribute to all current and former members of the Australian Defence Force, including those lost in training, on operations, the wounded, the injured and the ill.

Anzac Day is not a tribute to the victories or defeats of the Australian Defence Force. Instead we simply remember that individual, ordinary Australian men and women were and still are prepared to make personal sacrifices, many who gave their lives, for the freedom and quality of life that we enjoy today.

The spirit of Anzac is as relevant today as it was all those years ago.

The need for us to look after each other is greater now than at any other time in recent history and over the last 124 years the men and women who have served in the Australian Navy Army and Air Force have established a tradition and national pride that we should be proud to follow.

Lest We Forget