My paternal grandfather was an original Anzac, having landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 with the New Zealand Army. He was wounded and repatriated back to New Zealand, and later returned to serve on the Western Front. He was decorated with the Military Medal and bar. Both my uncles served in World War II. My father’s brother served as a navigator of a Halifax Bomber over Europe and my mother’s brother served in the defence of Australia at Darwin. My father also served, but not in active combat, as the war ended while he was training with the New Zealand Air Force, but he did serve in Japan as part of the allied occupation forces. I had watched the Sydney Anzac March on TV but never been to see it.
I joined Sue and later, Valerie, to watch the March go past Hyde Park. It was a very solemn procession, and a time for reflection.
The type of tuba used by many of the bands are known as “Sousaphones” (Invented by the march composer – John Sousa).
The banners with the “T” on them mean the unit served in Tobruk in WWII.
The red caps worn by the veterans below show they served as Tunnel Rats in Vietnam.
It was a very moving and impressive March.