Anzac Day - Defence Personnel Overseas
Friday April 22, 2005
Monday 25 April 2005 will be a particularly significant day as it marks ninety years since the soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), together with forces from Britain, India, Canada and France, landed at dawn on the west coast of the Gallipoli Peninsula to open the Dardanelles Campaign of World War I. Casualties were extremely heavy. By the end of the campaign over 11,000 ANZAC soldiers had been killed, and nearly 87,000 Turks who also lost their lives in the battle.
Our service members on United Nations, multinational peace-support operations and overseas deployments will remember the courage and commitment of those who have served, past and present, but mostly pride of the young, and not so young, men and women who left NZ, and lost their lives.
Whether serving in East Timor, Solomon Islands, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Korea, Iraq, Egypt, Israel, Bosnia, Kosovo, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, or alongside in Singapore or at sea all our sailors, soldiers and airman will commemorate ANZAC Day in their own unique way.
On the 90th anniversary of ANZAC Day, the Prime Ministers of New Zealand and Australia will participate in the ceremonies held on Gallipoli, Turkey.
The spirit of ANZAC Day is probably best expressed through The Ode for the Fallen, which is recited every year at ANZAC Day services around the world:
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.
Ends
For further information please contact Commander Sandra McKie, RNZN, Defence Press Officer, Ph: (04) 4960299
OPERATIONALLY DEPLOYED FORCES:
Overview
- Over the last three months, the major focus of effort for New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) operations has been the sustainment and rotation planning of major joint force elements to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand (HQ JFNZ) has also continued to deploy and sustain personnel in a number of smaller missions worldwide including, East Timor, Egypt, Sinai, Cambodia, Israel, Bosnia, Kosovo, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and the provision of an infantry platoon to the Solomon Islands in Nov 04 to assist the Regional Assistance Mission in the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). Sumatra Assist (Tsunami relief effort) and the NZDF support to the 04/05 summer Antarctic season.
- At the moment there are 588 NZDF personnel on United Nations, multinational peace-support operations and overseas deployments.
- 199 on United Nations missions, OEF and Afghanistan;
- 250 on HMNZ Ships Te Mana, Endeavour and Resolution;
- 139 at Gallipoli
NZDF current missions as at April 2005
Australia ANZAC DAY commemorations
Australia
NZDF personnel will be attending a variety of services throughout Australia; they include ANZAC ceremonies in:
Canberra;
Sydney;
Melbourne;
Adelaide; and
smaller towns and shires.
Manila, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur ANZAC DAY commemorations
Manila
The Australian and New Zealand communities are commemorating 90th anniversary of ANZAC DAY with a dawn service at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Fort Bonifacio cemetery. They are expecting in excess of 400 and will follow a traditional outdoor service support by the Philippine military. This year the Australian ambassador, HE Mr. Tony Hely, will give the address. Key guests will be the Secretary of National Defence, Honourable Avelino Cruz, JR, a recent guest to New Zealand, the Turkish Ambassador, HE Mr. Tanju Sumer, the Commanding General Philippine Army, LT GEN Generoso Senga, and senior military, public and local officials. The closely-knit ANZAC community is attending in increasing numbers each year and we also have a large group of children and young people representing the international schools around the city.
A traditional wreath laying will conclude a service that sees poppies and national emblems to the fore and a feeling of pride in our servicemen and women who have given their lives for our two nations and those who continue to serve in far flung regions around the globe to enhance the peace and stability for all to share.
Singapore and Kuala Lumpur
HMNZ Ships Te Mana and Endeavour (215 personnel)
RNZN personnel from Te Mana and Endeavour ship’s company will parade at the Kranji War Memorial Cemetery, Singapore and Cheras Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur.
Both ceremonies start at 6:25 am and Te Mana and Endeavour will provide a catafalque guards for each ceremony
60 pers involved in Singapore ceremony (includes guard, Kapa Haka (x2), and 22 pers at Kuala Lumpur.
It is anticipated that 1,000 will attend and we will have large representation from Singapore Armed Forces, US Forces in Singapore, a French contingent from FNS Marne and a UK Contingent. 30 wreaths will be laid from the various Embassies and High Commissions and the Australian International School will sing the Anthems The address will be given by the NZ High Commissioner, HE Dr Richard Grant and a reading will also be read by the Turkish Ambassador, Mr M.Hayri Erol and the 'Ode for the Fallen' by the Australian High Commissioner HE Mr Gary Quinlan. The Ghurkha Police Force stationed in Singapore will provide the piper and bugler.
ANZAC Day in KL, Malaysia will consist of:
- 6:30 am ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Military Annex of the Cheras Christian Cemetery where a number of Australian and NZers are buried. It will include a Catafalque Party of supporting contingent from HMNZ Ships TE MANA and ENDEAVOUR and other members of the NZDF and ADF posted to Malaysia. It is expected that approx 250 personnel will attend the Service.
7:30 am Following the Service a Breakfast will be held at the residence of the Australian High Commissioner.
East Timor and Solomon Islands ANZAC DAY commemorations
United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET)
Australian, New Zealand and East Timorese defence personnel, United Nations staff, and various Embassies government officials will hold a dawn service at 6:00 am on the beach below the Jesus Statue in Dili.
NZDF support to an Australian Defence Force led Combined Joint Task Force in the Regional Assistance Mission in the Solomon Islands (RAMSI)
Dawn parade and service with the Australians.
Afghanistan ANZAC DAY commemorations
Support to multinational operations against trans-national terrorism in Afghanistan
Dawn parade and service, attendees include Coalition Forces and local Afghan Govt representatives.
Cambodia and Korea ANZAC DAY commemorations
Cambodian mine Action Centre (CMAC)
Dawn parade and service.
United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission (UNCMAC) Korea
Dawn parade and service.
Middle East ANZAC DAY commemorations
United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI)
ANZAC Day celebrations are being held in Baghdad, the Australian contingent has organised several dawn services throughout the country with major concentrations of Australians.
Attempting to linkup with the Australians in Baghdad, transport and security to be confirmed.
Other missions in the region will be combining with Australian defence personnel for a dawn parade and service and a formal evening meal.
New Zealand Contingent Multinational Force and Observers (NZCMFO)
NZDF personnel will attend ANZAC services in Cairo, North Camp (Sinai), El Alamein and Jerusalem.
Europe ANZAC DAY commemorations
United Kingdom
23 Apr
Brig Paul Southwell (NZ Defence Attaché) will be attending an ANZAC Ceremony at the Australian National Memorial in the Somme near Villers-Bretoneux (near Amiens), followed by a service at the French Memorial in the village of Villers-Bretonneux.
24 Apr
Brig Paul Southwell will also be attending ANZAC Service at Le Quesnoy, France. Other NZDF personnel will attend services at:
- Longueval, France;
- Brockenhurst, England;
- Walton on Thames, England;
- Edinburgh, Scotland; and
- Grangegorman Cemetery, Dublin, Ireland.
25 Apr
NZDF personnel will also be attending:
- Dawn Service at Australian Memorial Hyde Park Corner (High Commissioner and Minister Mallard attending);
- ANZAC Breakfast, Victory Services Club;
- Wreath laying Service at the Cenotaph Whitehall (NZ Army Rugby tour - full party attending) (High Commissioner and Minister Mallard attending);
- Memorial Service at Westminster Abbey (NZ Army Rugby tour - full party attending) (High Commissioner and Minister Mallard attending) (Queen and Duke of Edinburgh attending);
- ANZAC Day Reception at Australia House (NZ Army Tour - Management and Vets also attending) (with High Commissioner and Minister Mallard);
- Memorial Service and Wreath laying at St Georges Chapel in the crypt at St Paul's (with High Commissioner and Minister Mallard;)
- ANZAC memorial service in Berlin, Germany;
ANZAC memorial service at St Anne's Church, Dublin, Ireland;
- ANZAC memorial service at Ypers, Belgium;
- ANZAC Memorial Service in Arbroath, Scotland; and
- ANZAC Memorial Service in Rome, Italy (with other reps from Bosnia also in attendance).
European Union Force, Bosnia (EUFOR)
Five personnel are heading to Rome to assist with ceremonies there, while the remaining six will mark the anniversary with a small ceremony at their base in Prijedor.
UN Interim Administration Mission In Kosovo (UNMIK)
NZDF personnel will attend the Gallipoli ceremony.
North America ANZAC DAY commemorations
Canada
In keeping with a long standing tradition the (NZDF personnel) NZ and AS High Commissions will co host an ANZAC Day ceremony at dawn at the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Memorial, a venue that is overseen by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Ottawa based heads of mission, Canadian politicians, government officials (including the Canadian Chief of Defence Staff) and veteran associations parade. The venue is very appropriate as it acknowledges the 227 Australian and New Zealand aircrew that died in Canada under the auspices of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan from 1941 - 1945.
In Winnipeg, the RNZAF navigator students at the Canadian Force's Air Navigation School parade alongside their Australian colleagues on 22 April in conjunction with the Down Under club of Winnipeg.
In Edmonton the MOD/RNZAF C130 life extension project team intend to involve themselves in a low key but appropriate ceremony.
Washington DC
NZDF personnel at the NZ Embassy will commemorate ANZAC Day with a dawn service at the Korean War Veterans Memorial followed by a breakfast hosted by the Australian Embassy. At 10:30 am there will be a commemorative service at the Washington National Cathedral followed by a Ambassadors reception at the NZ Embassy.
UN Headquarters
In New York In New York the Ceremony is held on the closest Sunday to ANZAC Day, this year it will be held at 10:30am Sunday 24 April.
The ceremony will be held in the ANZAC Memorial Garden, British Empire Building in the Rockefeller Centre on fifth Avenue.
The Garden has a fascinating history, which starts with a woman called Nola Luxford-Dolberg – the Angel of the Anzacs. In the 1940s, Nola Luxford-Dolberg was simply the best-connected New Zealander in New York. Her life spanned the twentieth century and circled the globe, taking her from turn-of-the-century Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand to Hollywood’s Golden Age, and the elite circles of New York society. She became well know in New Zealand for her radio broadcasts, but it was the Anzac Club she established at 106 West 56th Street and ran for four years that she considered her greatest achievement. The Club provided assistance to 35,000 Australian and New Zealand serviceman who passed through its doors during the dark days of the World War II.
During the same year the Club was established, Nola approached Rockefeller Center officials with a view to creating a special garden of remembrance. They gave their permission, and in 1941 the late New Zealand Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Peter Fraser, opened the garden. It has been used exclusively ever since for the annual ANZAC Service, held on the closest Sunday to ANZAC Day.
New Zealand and Australia are the only countries to have a garden at the Center. The Garden’s reflective pool symbolizes the blue Pacific, the two small garden beds represent New Zealand and Australia and the larger garden bed represents the United States. Three countries joined together in remembrance.
Nola Luxford-Dolberg died two months short of her 99th birthday in 1994.
You can read more about Nola Luxford-Dohlberg in Angel of the Anzacs: the Life of Nola Luxford by Carole van Grondelle.
The ceremony is open to all Kiwis and Australians. We have dignitaries from a number of Permanent Missions to the UN and the respective Consul Generals of those countries that were at Gallipoli.
After the Service we all adjourn to the Australian Mission for tea/coffee, traditional meat pies and sausage rolls. Those who wish to then go on to one of the local pubs to participate in the traditional 'two up.'
African ANZAC DAY commemorations
Accelerated De-mining Program Mozambique (ADP)
NZDF personnel will attend a ceremony in Maputo.
UN Assistance Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL)
NZDF personnel will attend a ceremony in Freetown with the Canadians and British forces.
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