Commemoration of World War One
For nearly 100 years since the war ended, Australian people have rememberedthe sacrifices of Australians who served and died in World War One. This was especially important for families that are too far away to attend a funeral or burial plot, and has also helped later generations understand the experiences of those who fought.
Remembrance Day
In Australia and in other allied nations, 11 November became known as Armistice Day – a day to remember those who had died in World War One. After World War Two, the Australian Government changed the name of the day to Remembrance Day, so we can pay respect to those that died during both world wars. In 1997 this was extended to commemorate all Australians who have died in all wars fought for Australia.
Key aspects of Remembrance Day ceremonies are the one minute’s silence at 11 am (to remember the ceasefire that stopped the guns) and the wreath-laying ceremonies at local and national war memorials. Wearing a red poppy is another Remembrance Day tradition. The Flanders Poppy, as it has become known, grew wild in the trenches, bomb craters and battlefields of the Western Front and also in Turkey.
ANZAC Day
The ‘Anzac tradition’ makes us think of the sacrifices and mateship that soldiers shoewed on the Turkish peninsula. These sacrifices are remembered on a public holiday each year on the anniversary of the Gallipoli landing: 25 April.
Australians first commemorated the Gallipoli landing in 1916. In the 1920s, people began to organise ceremonies and in 1923, dawn services were arranged.
Part of the commemoration involves the Anzac Day march, where men and women who have served in wars march through the streets of towns and cities lined with spectators wanting to pay their respects.
The RSL
The Returned and Services League (RSL) was originally set up in 1916 so that returned soldiers could keep in contact with wartime mates and to share the feelings of camaraderie (friendship) they had developed during the war. The RSL also promote commemoration of their war work.
The Australian War Memorial, Canberra
In 1915, people beganthinking about how Australia’s losses could be honoured and commemorated. Historians played a major role in setting up permanent memorials of the Australians who served in World War One: the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. It includes the Roll of Honour (panels listing all those who died), a Commemorative Roll (list of those who died from war wounds); relics of war experiences, and visual displays depicting the day-to-day experiences of those who fought.
Today, the Australian War Memorial commemorates all Australians who served and died for their country in wartime.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission looks after the graves and memorials of all those from Commonwealth countries who served in World War One (and in wars since). The Office of Australian War Graves works to ensure that people recognise and remember Australians’ wartime contributions.
Tourist Trips
As well as visiting World War One sites in Turkey, many Australians nowadays visit the areas in Flanders (Belgium) and the Somme (France) where Australians fought during World War One. One village of special importance is Villers-Bretonneux in the Somme region of northern France, which the Australian ambassador visits for a wreath-laying ceremony on the Sunday nearest to Anzac Day every year.
TASK: Design a memorial that could honour the ANZACS. Think about what values they had and demostrated in the trenches and the battlefields of Gallipoli and the Western Front.
To get ideas, you might want to google ‘war memorials’ and then click on images.
When you have finished designing, justify your choices.