ANZAC DAY EDITION

Based on the grounds of the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery

 in Northern France, the Sir John Monash Centre 

is a poignant part of the Western Front. 

The official opening of The Sir John Monash Centre

 took place at 5.00pm France time, 24 April 2018.

Sir John Monash

 Australian military commander of the First World War. 

He commanded the 13th Infantry Brigade before the war

 and then, shortly after its outbreak, 

became commander of the 4th Brigade in Egypt,

 with whom he took part in the Gallipoli campaign.

 In July 1916 he took charge of the newly raised 3rd Division

 in northwestern France and in May 1918

 became commander of the Australian Corps, at the time 

the largest corps on the Western Front.

 The successful Allied attack at the Battle of Amiens 

on 8 August 1918

, which expedited the end of the war,

 was planned by Monash and spearheaded 

by British forces including the Australian and Canadian Corps

 under Monash and Arthur Currie.

 Monash is considered one of the best Allied generals

 of the First World War and the most famous commander in Australian history

James Dexter tells the incredible story of his grandfather 

Walter who fought in the Boer War

 and later became one of the longest-serving 

and most highly decorated chaplains in the AIF. 

Walter, whose story is shared in Albany's National Anzac Centre,

 was also responsible for mapping the cemeteries

 on Gallipoli before the Anzacs were evacuated in December 1915

ANZAC humour

National ANZAC centre Albany

The award winning National Anzac Centre

 is one of Australia's most important cultural pilgrimages.

 Located within Albany's heritage listed Princess Royal Fortress,

 the centre overlooks the actual harbour

 from which over 41,000 men and woman

 departed Australia for the Great War

Albany (WA) was the gathering point for the first two convoys

 carrying the Australian Imperial Force and New Zealand Expeditionary Force,

 before they departed for the war.

 These troops were later to be known as the Anzacs.

The National Anzac Centre is Australia’s foremost museum

 dedicated solely to honouring the Anzacs of the First World War.

 Set within Albany Heritage Park, Western Australia

, the Centre offers visitors a deeply personal connection

 with the Anzac story revealed through interactive multimedia displays,

 unique artefacts, rare images and film, and audio commentary.

The National Anzac Centre was opened by the 

Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand and the Premier of Western Australia

 on 1 November 2014

: the centenary of the first convoy’s departure for war.

The Desert Mounted Corps Memorial atop Mount Clarence. 

Although the statue is a recast of the original statue

 erected at Suez, Egypt in 1932,

 the granite blocks are the originals,

 bullet marks can still be seen on them.

Peter FitzSimons tells the story of the men who went into battle
 at Lone Pine and The Nek a century ago
 in a desperate attempt to break the three-month stalemate.
 Archie Barwick's diary entries from Lone Pine again
 capture the brutality of the campaign 
and iconic scenes from Peter Weir's Gallipoli are featured.

Having had ANZAC Day commemorations and memorials,

this Lady felt inspired to pay her own tribute to the brave ANZAC's,

including both of her Great Grandfather's.

Sadly, neither of them made it home.

To those who served then and to those who serve now, thank you.

Here is her rendition of The Last Post

The Last Post- Violin