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Anzacherdenking / -commemoration - Zonnebeke - 04/10/2007
On Thursday, October 4th, 2007, an important Anzac commemoration
took place at Zonnebeke and Passendale, exactly 90 years after
the historic events of 1917.
After the ceremony at the Commemorative
column for the New Zealand Division at s'Graventafel (Passendale),
the Anzac service took place at Tyne
Cot Cemetery, also at Passendale. In the afternoon, the
burial of the 5 Austalian soldiers took place at Buttes
New British Cemetery at Zonnebeke.
 
The 5 coffins are already in place.
 
Arrival of the relatives of the soldiers and representaties
of the unknown Australian solider.
 
Arrival of The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia,
His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffrey.
 
The Service was led by Chaplin Jim Pearson, Chaplain to the
51st Battalion, The Far North Queensland Regiment, Australian
Army.
 
At the opposite, the second press pool.
At the right: reading by the Vice Chief of the Australian
Defence Force, Lieutenant General K. Gillespie.
 
Address by The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia,
His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffrey.
 
A lot of people attended the service.
 
Flowers by the wife of The Governor-General of the Commonwealth
of Australia, His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffrey,
followed by the relatives of the soldiers.
 
The bearer party provided by the 51st Battalion, The Far
North Queensland Regiment, Australian Army moves into position.
 
The Ode read by Major General Michael O'Brien, representative
of the Chief of Army Australia.
 
The coffins were now lowered individually. Before this occured,
the bearer party removed the accroutements from each coffin
and placed them next to the headstone. The wreaths were offered
to the official party for laying at the conclusion of the
Last Post.
 
 
Prior to lowering the coffin into the grave, the chaplain
sprinkled water and sand on each casket. The water and sand
came from Albany in Western Australia, the place from which
these soldiers last left Australian soil. Western Australia
is also the state from which the 51st Battalion, The Far North
Queensland Regiment, Australian Army draws its lineage.
 
As the coffins were lowered, each of the fallen was afforded
a three volley salute by the firing party. The firing party
comprised of the 51st Battalion, the Far North Queensland
Regiment, Australian Army. After the final coffin was lowered,
the Last Post was sounded.
 
Wreath laying by the official party.
 
Presentation of the belongings to the family.
 
The headstones of the two soldiers which were identified
thanks to DNA-research.
 
The monument for the Australian Division at the top and an
overview of the cemetery.
 
Back at Zonnebeke Chateau.
 
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, His
Excellency Major General Michael Jeffrey and his wife in conversation
with mayor Dirk Cardoen and first olderman Franky Bryon.
Deze rubriek staat open voor iedereen.
Ook jij kunt foto's doorsturen voor de rubriek "Je was er
bij". Ons adres: info@westhoek.be
Everyone can send pictures for these pages "You were
there". Our address: info@westhoek.be
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