THE Australian and New Zealand Association of KwaZulu-Natal (ANZA) hosted a commemoration service and thanksgiving at the Wall of Remembrance, Natal Mounted Rifles (NMR) head quarters, on 25 April.
Each year on this day the Australian and New Zealand volunteers who lost their lives during the Battle of Gallipoli are remembered for being part of the Allied Forces in the first world war. Even though there were huge losses of life on both sides, it did play a part in assisting the allies in gaining the freedom that we enjoy today.
While this day was hosted by ANZA, 44 wreaths were laid by many organisations and army personnel. The bag piper Sgt Antony Paterson played the Lament at the lowering of the flags of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and NMR, and the Last Post was sounded and after a moment of silence, the Reveille was played by W/O Gabriel Joseph.
Mark Rowe, chief coach of the Melbourne Rebels rugby team and former warrant officer in the New Zealand Army for 20 years, and the Rebels rugby team from Australia attended the service.
There was a formal dinner after the service with a very special speech by W/O Bobby Freeman of NMR who spoke about his six week tour of New Zealand.
This was the biggest turnout of all people representing many services and military in Durban.
ANZAC Day is also recognised in the UK, Canada and many other countries as the remembrance of all people killed in all wars in the world, not just the killings that took place at Gallipoli and the Dardanelles in 1915.
