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Anzac Day, Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France, 2008

Introduction
Image Gallery
Anzac Day Villers-Bretonneux 2009

Introduction

Crowds of more than 5,000 Australians made their way to the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France, to attend this year’s Anzac Day commemorations.  The special Dawn Service on 25 April marked the significant 90th anniversary of the battles on the Western Front that led to the Armistice.   

The Dawn Service remembered all those Australians who fought and died in the 1918 battles in defence of Amiens, but also paid tribute to all Australians who have served at home and overseas in wars, conflicts and peace operations. 

For many years the local communities of Villers-Bretonneux and Bullecourt have remembered those Australians who, 90 years ago, fought to recapture and defend their villages against German forces.  Anzac Day commemorations are held annually on the closest Saturday to Anzac Day, this year on 26 April, at the Australian National Memorial, the town centres of Villers-Bretonneux and Bullecourt, and at the Australian “Digger” Memorial on the Bullecourt village outskirts.  The Australian Embassy in Paris and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs support the local commemorations and the details of these are available on the DVA website closer to Anzac Day.

To explore the First World War battles on the Western Front, visit DVA’s website Australians on the Western Front 1914-1918 at: http://www.ww1westernfront.gov.au/.  The Department’s publication series Australians on the Western Front feature images from the Australian War Memorial (AWM) photographic collection and are available for purchase from the AWM Shop or online at: http://www.awm.gov.au/ or telephone: ph. +61 (02) 6243 4274.

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Image Gallery

The Anzac Day Dawn Service 25 April

Photo of a lone Digger standing at the Cross of Sacrifice, at the Australian National Memorial Site, Villers-Bretonneux Photo of the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux Photo of the tower of the Australian National Memorial
A lone Digger stands at the Cross of Sacrifice, at the Australian National Memorial Site, Villers-Bretonneux.  Image courtesy of the Department of Defence. The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux. Image courtesy of the Department of Defence. The Australian Defence Force Band Bugler sounded the Last Post from the top of the tower of the Australian National Memorial.  Image courtesy of the Department of Defence.

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Anzac Day Community Services 26 April

Photo of the catafalque party standing guard at the Anzac Day Community Commemorations at the Australian National Memorial on Saturday 26 April. Photo of Members of the French and Australian Defence Forces forming an honour guard at the Australian “Digger” Memorial, on the outskirts of Bullecourt. Photo of the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon Alan Griffin MP, laying a wreath at the Community Service.
The catafalque party stood guard at the Anzac Day Community Commemorations at the Australian National Memorial on Saturday 26 April. Image courtesy of the Department of Defence. Members of the French and Australian Defence Forces formed an honour guard at the Australian “Digger” Memorial, on the outskirts of Bullecourt. Image courtesy of the Department of Defence. The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon Alan Griffin MP, lays a wreath at the Community Service. Image courtesy of the Department of Defence.

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