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Anzac Day
April 25 2007
For the third year running members of the British Veterans Newcastle & Hunter
participated in the 93rd Anzac Day March held in Newcastle: a day to remember
the sacrifice that took place in Turkey in 1915.
Unlike the Dawn Service, attended by 5000, flags replaced umbrellas as rain
cleared and many hundreds lined the streets, and then moved into City Hall
for the 10am service, transferred from Civic Park because of weather fears.
The British contingent was under the command of Duncan Price while two cadets
from Newcastle Grammar were flag bears. Duncan has recently returned from
a ten-day visit to Egypt with the Suez Veterans’ Association.
Among the marchers were Mike Wood, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, Kenya;
Pat Warren, Royal Signals, Germany; and Stephen Earl accompanied by his two
sons proudly displaying their grand-father’s medals: a Flight Lieutenant
who saw service in New Guinea between 1942-47.
A tribute was laid by Ray Cousins, French Foreign Legion, Middlesex Regiment
and U.D.R. Northern Ireland.
A new innovation at the Dawn Service was the introduction of a “flame
of eternity” illuminating damp faces in the bleakness before dawn.
Of particular significance this year was the 90-year anniversary service
in Villers-Bretonneux, commemorating Australian troops’ recapture of
the French village and halting the German advance.
After the march members moved to the Mayfield Ex-Services Club for lunch.
The next major activity will be Veterans Day and plans are underway to observe
this occasion.
Photo Captions:
Parade Commander Duncan Price as British Veterans passes the reviewing
officer.
Enjoying a drink after the parade.
