What is ANZAC DAY?
On the 8th of May we will celebrate the end of the War in Europe in 1945. But let us not forget the tremendous cost of young lives it took to achieve the victory. ANZAC DAY is on the 25th April. It is the main Day of Remembrance in Australia and New Zealand. It was on this day in 1915 that the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), part of the allied forces, set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsular from the Ottoman Empire (Turkiye). The unsuccessful campaign lasted 8 months. It was a hard fought battle with over 250,000 casualties on each side including over 27,000 Australians and 7,500 New Zealanders. It’s significance in both modern day Türkiye and Australia and New Zealand is not forgotten. The Gallipoli Peninsula Historical Site is a memorial for all the casualties from both sides.
Commonwealth War Graves at Stonefall, Harrogate
Twenty five years later, when the world was once again at war, young men from Australia and New Zealand volunteered to fight for the allied nations in another European War. The Commonwealth War Graves in Stonefall Cemetery in Harrogate is the resting place for more than 1000 young men, mostly Canadian but also 97 Australian and 23 New Zealanders. Nearly all were aviators, many served in Bomber Command. The average expected life of an aviator once on active service was just 6 weeks! There are many stories behind the lives of those young men – so far from home.
ANZAC DAY SERVICE
The first official ANZAC Remembrance Ceremony in Harrogate took place in 2022, in recognition of the ‘Twin Town’’ links between Harrogate and Wellington. Since then the charity ANZAC REMEMBRANCE C.I.O was formed to ensure that the day is remembered annually. The Club also formed a Friendship Link with Soroptimist International of Wellington the first Club in New Zealand, chartered 86 years ago. So just a few years younger than our Club, chartered in 1933. Four of the young airmen buried at Stonefall are from Wellington.
The Remembrance Service this year took place on Sunday 27th April. A beautiful sunny day. Our President Sheila Ince laid a wreath on behalf of ourselves and SI Wellington. The Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire laid a wreath on behalf of the King. The Civic Mayor and representatives from the local MP, the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, French Airforce, Royal Air Force, the British Legion and other civic organisations also laid wreaths. Harrogate Air Cadets carried the flags and marched to Harrogate Band
LEST WE FORGET
YOU TUBE VIDEOS
President Sheila lays a wreath
Address by Commodore Adam Sansom, Royal Air Force