ANZAC Day 2026

It's been a couple of years since I last attended the ANZAC Day parade through Adelaide.   The parade is opened by the Greys of the South Australian Police, followed by their band and the flag party.

There are no veterens left from World War One, and very few from World War Two, but veterans from more recent conflicts were very well represented.  

It is both moving and uplifting to see these old mates proudly displaying their and their relative's medals.

The groups of veterans are supported by marching bands and some vehicles for the less mobile.

I was nearly caught out by the RAAF P-8 Poseidon Flypast.   It usually comes from the North along King William Street, but today it came from the West.

The March also displays our current serving men and women from the Royal Australian Navy, The Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force.

And at the rear, the Barossa Light Horse Historical Association, commemorating the 8th and 19th Light Horse Regiments who saw action in both World Wars.

Today is a time of reflection and remembrance, and for remembering other members of my family who gave their lives for their country:

 

George Frederick Holbrook, Died 12 Aug 1915, age 23, at Gallipoli, Rifleman in the Hampshire Regiment.

Eric Raymond Holbrook, Died 12 Aug 1915, age 18, at Gallipoli, Lance Corporal in the Hampshire Regiment.

George and Eric were Uncle and Nephew.

Henry George Funnell, Died 28 Oct 1915, age 20, aboard HMS Hythe, off Gallipoli, Turkey , Sapper in the Royal Engineers

Alfred Victor Funnell(1), Died 28 Oct 1915, age 18, aboard HMS Hythe, off Gallipoli, Turkey , Driver in the Royal Engineers

Henry and Alfred were brothers.

William Albert Funnell, Died 28 Oct 1915, age 20, aboard HMS Hythe, off Gallipoli, Turkey , Sapper in the Royal Engineers

Frank Funnell, Died 28 Oct 1915, age 22, aboard HMS Hythe, off Gallipoli, Turkey , Sapper in the Royal Engineers

Henry, Alfred, William and Frank were all cousins.

Frank Crittenden, Died 28 Oct 1915, age 21, aboard HMS Hythe, off Gallipoli, Turkey , Sapper in the Royal Engineers

HMS Hythe, a troop carrier taking troops to the conflict, was accidentally rammed and sunk off the Gallipoli coast by HMS Sarnia with the loss of 155 lives including 5 of my relatives

Alfred Victor Funnell(2), Died 9 Oct 1916, age 18, Somme, Picardy, France, Private in the Queens Own Royal Kent Regiment

Alfred was also a cousin of Henry, Alfred, William and Frank.

Albert Edward Holbrook, Died 19 Apr 1917, age 23, Palestine, Rifleman in the Hampshire Regiment

Alexander Male, Died 1 Dec 1917, age 33, at Cambrai, Pas de Calais, Private in the Royal Tank Corps.

Harry Philip Holbrook, Died 12 Aug 1918, age 31, Borre, Pas de Calais, France, Sergeant in the Hampshire Regiment

 

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

ANZAC Day Parade 2023

 Today is ANZAC day. All across Australia and New Zealand there are dawn services and parades to remember those  who died, not only at Gallipoli, but anywhere in service to their country.

In Adelaide there is a big parade of veterans, acting servicemen and relatives, remembering and giving thanks to those the served and still serve.

The parade is led by the greys of the mounted Police, the Police Band and the Flag bearers.

They are followed by representatives of Legacy, a charity supporting the families of veterans of all conflicts.

  

There are no veterans from WW1, and very few from WW2. Those that can, march proudly, and those that can't are pushed or driven in the parade. all proudly displaying their medals.

After the veterans, the serving armed forces march past, followed by the relatives of veterans unable to attend, some carrying mementos with them.

Interspersed in the groups of marchers are marching bands. Some are military bands, but mostly local brass bands and pipe and drum bands.

I noticed this year that some dogs were also included in the parade, with Guide Dogs, Working Dogs and Support Dogs all included.

The parade ends with members of the Barossa Light Horse Historical Association.

Today is a time of reflection and remembrance.  For me, it is the first ANZAC day since my beloved wife Thelma Maryann passed away. We always tried to get to either a dawn service or the parade. It is also for remembering other members of my family who gave their lives for their country:

George Frederick Holbrook, Died 12 Aug 1915, age 23, at Gallipoli, Rifleman in the Hampshire Regiment.

Eric Raymond Holbrook, Died 12 Aug 1915, age 18, at Gallipoli, Lance Corporal in the Hampshire Regiment.

George and Eric were Uncle and Nephew.

Henry George Funnell, Died 28 Oct 1915, age 20, aboard HMS Hythe, off Gallipoli, Turkey , Sapper in the Royal Engineers

Alfred Victor Funnell(1), Died 28 Oct 1915, age 18, aboard HMS Hythe, off Gallipoli, Turkey , Driver in the Royal Engineers

Henry and Alfred were brothers.

William Albert Funnell, Died 28 Oct 1915, age 20, aboard HMS Hythe, off Gallipoli, Turkey , Sapper in the Royal Engineers

Frank Funnell, Died 28 Oct 1915, age 22, aboard HMS Hythe, off Gallipoli, Turkey , Sapper in the Royal Engineers

Henry, Alfred, William and Frank were all cousins.

Frank Crittenden, Died 28 Oct 1915, age 21, aboard HMS Hythe, off Gallipoli, Turkey , Sapper in the Royal Engineers

HMS Hythe, a troop carrier taking troops to the conflict, was accidentally rammed and sunk off the Gallipoli coast by HMS Sarnia with the loss of 155 lives including 5 of my relatives

Alfred Victor Funnell(2), Died 9 Oct 1916, age 18, Somme, Picardy, France, Private in the Queens Own Royal Kent Regiment

Alfred was also a cousin of Henry, Alfred, William and Frank.

Albert Edward Holbrook, Died 19 Apr 1917, age 23, Palestine, Rifleman in the Hampshire Regiment

Alexander Male, Died 1 Dec 1917, age 33, at Cambrai, Pas de Calais, Private in the Royal Tank Corps.

Harry Philip Holbrook, Died 12 Aug 1918, age 31, Borre, Pas de Calais, France, Sergeant in the Hampshire Regiment

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

ANZAC Day 2015

One hundred years ago today, the allied forces landed on the Gallipoli Peninsular in Turkey.  In the battle that ensued, over 57,000 allied troops died, including almost 9,000 Australian and almost 3,000 New Zealand troops known collectively as the ANZACS.

Across Australia and New Zealand, this is commemorated with Dawn Services held in every city, town village.  We attended our local service at Salisbury, and a few photographs are included below. 

ANZAC Day is a time to remember those that have made the ultimate sacrifice, and I dedicate this post to the members of my family that served in World War 1, never to return to their loved ones:

 

George Frederick Holbrook, Died 12 Aug 1915, age 23, at Gallipoli, Rifleman in the Hampshire Regiment.

 

Eric Raymond Holbrook, Died 12 Aug 1915, age 18, at Gallipoli, Lance Corporal in the Hampshire Regiment.

 

George and Eric were Uncle and Nephew.

 

Henry George Funnell, Died 28 Oct 1915, age 20, aboard HMS Hythe, off Gallipoli, Turkey , Sapper in the Royal Engineers

 

Alfred Victor Funnell(1), Died 28 Oct 1915, age 18, aboard HMS Hythe, off Gallipoli, Turkey , Driver in the Royal Engineers

 

Henry and Alfred were brothers.

 

William Albert Funnell, Died 28 Oct 1915, age 20, aboard HMS Hythe, off Gallipoli, Turkey , Sapper in the Royal Engineers

 

Frank Funnell, Died 28 Oct 1915, age 22, aboard HMS Hythe, off Gallipoli, Turkey , Sapper in the Royal Engineers

 

Henry, Alfred, William and Frank were all cousins.

 

Frank Crittenden, Died 28 Oct 1915, age 21, aboard HMS Hythe, off Gallipoli, Turkey , Sapper in the Royal Engineers

 

HMS Hythe was accidentally rammed and sunk off the Galipolli coast by HMS Sarnia with the loss of 155 lives including 5 of my relatives

 

Alfred Victor Funnell(2), Died 9 Oct 1916, age 18, Somme, Picardy, France, Private in the Queens Own Royal Kent Regiment

 

Alfred was also a cousin of Henry, Alfred, William and Frank.

 

Albert Edward Holbrook, Died 19 Apr 1917, age 23, Palestine, Rifleman in the Hampshire Regiment

 

Alexander Male, Died 1 Dec 1917, age 33, at Cambrai, Pas de Calais, Private in the Royal Tank Corps.

 

Harry Philip Holbrook, Died 12 Aug 1918, age 31, Borre, Pas de Calais, France, Sergeant in the Hampshire Regiment

 

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

 

 

 

Lest we forget.

ANZAC Day 2014

Today is ANZAC Day, the 99th anniversary of the ANZACs landing at Gallipoli in Turkey early in the First World War. All over Australia and New Zealand, (and indeed all over the world), this day is commemorated with dawn services and parades.

We went to the parade in Adelaide this morning.  The crowd gathered early, eager to pay their respect to soldiers, sailors and airmen young, old, and departed.  Some made signs, others waved flags, but all cheered and clapped.

The parade was led by the Australian Mounted Police, the Colour Party and the army band.

There were some military vehicles throughout the parade, but everyone was really here to thank the veterans.  How proud they were, marching with their comrades, in perfect time with the marching bands.

Bringing up the rear was a contingent of the Australian Army, recently returned from Afghanistan, and a historical depiction of the South Australian Light Horse, a regiment that took part in the landing that fateful day in 1915.

 They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Lest we forget