A copy of this Fromelles Day Sydney 19 July 2022 Commemorative Procession and Commemoration Souvenir is available for downloading by clicking on this link.

Commemorative Procession from the Archibald Fountain to the Anzac Memorial

The Families and Friends of the First AIF in conjunction with the Trustees of the Anzac Memorial, hosted the Commemoration of the 106th anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles at The Anzac Memorial Hyde Park, Sydney on Tuesday 19 July 2022. It was the third Fromelles Day Commemoration during the era of the COVID19 pandemic with the 2020 Commemoration being a “closed event” with attendance capped at 35 attendees and the 2021 Commemoration being cancelled and a single FFFAIF supplied wreath being laid by the staff of the Anzac Memorial. Following the easing of Coronavirus restrictions, a limited Commemorative Procession and Commemoration with dignitaries and consular representatives and representatives of ex-service and descendant organisations was held with physical distancing encouraged. While risk management measures had been incorporated to protect those attending, each person attending was requested to take responsibility for their own well being as well as that of other attendees.

The Battle of Fromelles in northern France on 19-20 July 2016 was the first battle involving Australian troops on the Western Front following the withdrawal from Gallipoli. It was and remains the largest loss of Australian life in a 24-hour period with at least 1,917 killed or died of wounds, 3,416 wounded and 496 taken prisoner totalling 5,533 casualties. These included the 250 men buried by the Germans after the battle whose graves were located in 2008 and were exhumed and in 2010 were reinterred in the new Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery. 166 of these soldiers have now been identified by archaeological and anthropological analysis as well as DNA matching with relatives and now have their named headstone.

The Commemorative Procession leaving the Archibald Fountain.
All images are by Mick O’Flynn for Community Photography unless otherwise acknowledged [Click on images to see more detail]

The Commemoration was preceded by a Commemorative Procession of about 30 people on a cool winter morning with scattered showers from the Archibald Fountain that commemorates the association of Australia and France in The Great War to the Anzac Memorial. The procession symbolically represents the “400 yards”, the widest part of “No-man’s land” on the Fromelles battlefield, and paid homage to the 5th Division veterans marching to the Anzac Memorial for the 50th anniversary commemoration in 1966.

 
FFFAIF Procession Marshall Lt. Col. Paul Simadas RFD inviting participants to assemble for the Procession

Marie Gittard, Bernard Fontaine, Trevor Edwards, John Hitchen, Belgian Consul Michael Caluwaerts, Howard Collins, NSW Police Band Drummer Dave Armstrong, Paul Simadas, Forgotten Diggers Founder, John Thomas, NAJEX President Roger Selby

 Assembling for the Procession
Geoffrey Benn FAA & Victoria Benz DVA, Brendan Nelson and Jim Munday, Member for Willoughby Tim James MP [Click on images to see more detail]

Permission was obtained from the City of Sydney and NSW Police for the Commemorative Procession with physical distancing requested of participants. The Procession was then escorted by NSW Police Officers to the Anzac Memorial.

The Commemorative Procession re-enacted the final Parade of the veterans of the 5th Division on the 50th anniversary of the Battle marching to the ANZAC Memorial to request that the Trustees of the Anzac Memorial always remember their service and the sacrifice of their comrades on 19 July. A record of the Parade and Ceremony held in Hyde Park on 19 July 1966 is at Annexure C.

Flag Ensigns Geoffrey Benn, President Fromelles Association with M. Bernard Fontaine, French War Veterans of NSW at the head of the Commemorative Procession
[Images by Paul Simadas]

The Commemorative Procession was led by a Flag Party escorted by NSW Police Band Drummer Dave Armstrong. The Australian National Flag Ensign was Geoffrey Benn, President Fromelles Association of Australia, whose relative, 20 year-old Acting Sergeant William Polding Ryan, 31 Bn was Killed in the Battle of Fromelles and whose body was buried by the Germans after the battle and identified through DNA matching and now lies in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery. The French Tricolour was carried by M. Bernard Fontaine, representing the Association des Anciens Combatants Francais de Nouvelle Galles du Sud (French War Veterans of NSW).

Civic Dignitaries and Consular representatives as well as representatives of ex-service and descendant organisations participated in the Commemorative Procession.

 
The Commemorative Procession at Park Street

The Commemorative Procession at Hyde Park South approaching the Pool of Reflection

Participants in the Commemorative Procession included:

NSW Police Band Drummer, Musician Dave Armstrong;

Australian National Flag bearer Geoffrey Benn, President, Fromelles Association of Australia, honouring A/Sgt William Ryan, 31Bn, KIA Fromelles;

French National Flag bearer Bernard Fontaine, representing the French Veterans Association of New South Wales.

Mr Tim James MP, Member for Willoughby representing
The Hon. Dominic Perrottet MP, Premier of New South Wales and
Chair, The Anzac Memorial Trustees and
the Minister for Veterans, The Hon David Elliott MP;

Mr Phillip Chin Board Director, for Mr Ray James, President, The Returned and Services League of Australia NSW Branch;

Dr Marjorie O’Neill MP, The Member for Coogee, representing The NSW Opposition Leader and the Shadow Minister for Veterans, Mr Greg Warren MP;

Mr. Jonathan Cook, Deputy Consul-General of United Kingdom;

Mr. Bill Dobbie, Consul-General of New Zealand;

Mrs. Anne Boillon, Consul-General Republic of France;

Ms. Marie Gittard, French Veterans Delegate General for Australia;

Consul Michael Caluwaerts, representing the Ambassador of Belgium, His Excellency Mr Michel Goffin;

Ms Victoria Benz, Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Commissioner NSW/ACT;

Howard Collins OBE, Chief Operations Officer, Transport for NSW; with

Bill Phippen OAM (52 NSW railway and tramway men died at Fromelles);

Lt. Col, Ian Henderson (Rtd), representing the President, Remembrance Driveway Committee;

The Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson AO, Chair, Australian War Memorial Council;

Jim Munro, FFFAIF President, honouring Lt Stuart Munro 55Bn and Pte Alex Laurie 30Bn both KIA Fromelles;

Jill Hayes, FFFAIF Committee Member;

Jim Munday, Fromelles descendant of the Wilson brothers and member Fromelles Association and FFFAIF;

John Thomas, Founder, Forgotten Diggers;

Terry-Anne O’Neill, 53Bn historian;

Mjr John Hitchen (Rtd) representing the Military History Society of New South Wales;

Commodore Michael Flynn (Rtd) representing The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies NSW;

Roger Selby, President NSW Association of Jewish Service and Ex-Service Men & Women (NAJEX);

Annette Tebb, descendant of Ernest Jentsch, 53Bn, KIA Fromelles and honouring Madame Demassiet;

Julie Searant, Honouring her great uncles Lt James Murray (MBE) 55Bn & Lt Aubrey Murray (MC) 35Bn and Grandfather Sgt Harold Murray 30Bn;

Lorraine Henshaw, FFFAIF member honouring her relative.

FFFAIF Marshall Lt. Col. Paul Simadas RFD (also FFFAIF Vice President and Co-Chair Australian Branch of the Western Front Association).

Fromelles Commemorative Procession passing the Pool of Reflection on their way to the Anzac Memorial [Click on images to see more detail]

The Procession was greeted at the Anzac Memorial by:

Margaret Snodgrass OAM, FFFAIF Committee Member; and

Master of Ceremonies, Darren Mitchell.

Also at the Anzac Memorial were:

Ms Karen Dawson, Treasurer and Mrs Arline Ronsisvalle, Secretary (honouring Pte A Jones 55Bn, POW Fromelles) representing Australian World War One Descendants (AWWOD);

Barbara McGregor with Nicholas Doig honouring Pte. Hicks;

Mr Alexander Weilsman JP, Protocol Manager, Remembrance Driveway Council and Transport for New South Wales Commemorations;

and

Harry Allie BEM, Chair of the NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans Commemoration Service Committee;

Bugler, Terry McCleary, Fire & Rescue NSW Band, for Capt. Gunter 54Bn;

Piper Jim Braid, NSW Scottish Regimental Association Pipes and Drums, for Sgt James Dodd 53Bn and Pte Downie Dodd 55Bn KIA Fromelles;

Pastor, Bob Durbin, Chaplain, RSL LifeCare;

WO1 Darryl Holzhauser, Regimental Sergeant Major, Joint Ceremonial NSW of the Australian Army; and

Australian Amy Band Sydney Vocalist LCPL Jade O’Halloran and her accompanist
MUSN Sean Henderson.

With media coverage by:

Photographer Mike O’Flynn, Community Photography; and

7 Network NEWS.

Margaret Snodgrass Receiving the Procession at the Anzac Memorial
Image by 7 Network NEWS

Special thanks go to the Procession Marshall, Lt. Col. Paul Simadas RFD, Vice President Families and Friends of the First AIF and Chairman, Australian Branch, Western Front Association who co-ordinated many of the arrangements for the Procession including liaising with the NSW Police and City of Sydney Events Team to ensure the security for the Procession and safe passage across Park Street and establishing the Order of Procession.

Commemorative Service for the 106th Anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles

The Commemorative Service was held in the Anzac Memorial Auditorium on the 90th anniversary of the official dedication of its two foundation stones in 1932 by Sir Phillip Game, the Governor of NSW and Bertram Stevens, then Premier of New South Wales. Over 15,000 people assembled to witness the dedication of the stones bearing the words “A soldier set this stone” and “A citizen set this stone”. This date was also the 16th anniversary of the first battle on the Western Front involving Australian troops at Fromelles.

The Flag party led the Participants to the Auditorium and formed up outside the Auditorium to await the to make a formal entry to the Auditorium and placed their flags in a flag stand and the Commemoration Service commenced.

 

Australian National Flag bearer Geoffrey Benn and French National Flag bearer Bernard Fontaine placed the Australian and French National flags in the flagstand, saluted by The Australian Army Band Vocalist LCPL Jade O’Halloran and accompanist Musician Sean Henderson.

The Auditorium seating had been arranged to facilitate the Commemorative Service while keeping physical distancing.

Fromelles Commemoration attendees [Click on images to see more detail]

The Commemoration was greatly benefited by the presence of the Australian Amy Band Sydney Vocalist LCPL Jade O’Halloran and her accompanist MUSN Sean Henderson. At very short notice they had made themselves available to lead the singing following news that NSW Police Band Vocalist Belinda Parsons had to withdraw. What is most remarkable is that both vocalists are proficient at singing the French National Anthem in French and the bi-lingual New Zealand National Anthem in addition the other hymns and National Anthems in the Order of Service. It is a testament to the goodwill between the two bands and towards the Commemoration that this was done seamlessly within a matter of hours and is greatly appreciated.

Vocalist LCPL Jade O’Halloran leads O Valiant Hearts

Master of Ceremonies, and FFFAIF Member, Darren Mitchell welcomed guests to the Anzac Memorial where the foundation stones were laid on this day 90 years ago, in a ceremony attended by 15,000 people. After the Commemoration paused in reflection while the Last Post sounded as part of Anzac Memorial’s 11 o’clock Ceremony, with a Minute’s silence followed by the Rouse.
Darren then read a Vice Regal Message from His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. A copy of this message is at Annexure A and a copy of the Order of Service is at Annexure B.

 

Harry Allie BEM, Chair of the NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans Commemoration Service Committee and a former member of the NSW Centenary of Anzac Advisory Council led an Acknowledgement of Country on behalf of Aboriginal elders. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags were also flown at the Yininmadyemi Bullet sculpture for Indigenous Diggers to demonstrate respect for the custodians of this land, both past and present and their contribution to this country and its heritage and values.

The Prologue was delivered by The Honourable Dr. Brendan Nelson AO, Chair, The Australian War Memorial Council. He noted that on the day of the Armistice on 11 November 1918, the Official Historian Charles Bean declined to celebrate but chose to return to the battlefield of Fromelles, where he could be with the men who had dreamt of the day that they would never see, but for which they had given their lives. He wrote:
“It is one of the greatest and most tragic of assaults ever conducted by the AIF.”
Dr Nelson related the experiences of Major Geoff McCrae who, before he led the 60th Bn into the battle, wrote to his family “Farewell dear people, the hour approacheth” and Pte Walter Dowling, 57Bn who described how “hundreds were mown down in the flicker of an eyelid”. Brendan also related the reaction of Brig-General “Pompey” Elliott who commanded the 15th Brigade as being “speechless with grief” after visiting the battlefield and seeing the carnage.
Dr Nelson finished with the story of the Australian volunteers bringing in the wounded for the next 3 days, including Sgt Simon Fraser, immortalised by the Peter Corlett’s statue “Cobbers”. As he was bringing in a wounded comrade, he heard a lone voice ‘Don’t forget me Cobber’. Dr Nelson reflected “He didn’t, we won’t, we never will, for we are one and we are free. Lest we Forget.”

Pastor Bob Durbin, Chaplain with RSL LifeCare led a prayer remembering the soldiers killed, wounded or taken prisoner and those changed by their experiences in the battle and their families and giving thanks that some of those soldiers who were “lost” have now been found and those did not have a final resting place and now do. The life of Madame Demassiet whose family owned the land near Pheasant Wood where the Germans buried Australian soldiers killed in the battle was remembered with her passing on 16 July and her funeral being on this day, French time. Prayers were also offered for all those who have served or are currently serving in the Defence Force and help defend the democracy and freedoms that we have in Australia today.

Pastor Bob Durbin with a Prayer of Remembrance. Madame Marie Paule Demassiet, who in 2008 generously offered to gift her land for “it belongs to the soldiers”, with her grandson after the closing ceremony for the GUARD investigations at Fromelles on 13.06.2008 (Image by Carole Laignel).

The Australian Amy Band Sydney Vocalist LCPL Jade O’Halloran then led the singing of Abide with Me.

Vocalist LCPL Jade O’Halloran leads Abide With Me

                Brothers Sam, Eric and Jim Wilson                    Family Reflection by Jim Munday

In the Family Reflection, Jim Munday shared the story of the 3 Wilson brothers from Port Macquarie who fought in the Battle of Fromelles Jim aged 19 years was wounded in the neck and Sam aged 30 and Eric aged 20 were both Killed in Action. Sam and Eric were buried by the Germans after the battle and identified through DNA matching. They were found to have been recognised as brothers by the Germans and buried side by side in the communal grave near Pheasant Wood. Jim also reflected on the Family’s journey of “closure” and the emotional impact of the identification of Sam and Eric’s remains and of 13 family members attending the 2010 dedication at the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery of their named headstones. Jim also shared that being shown over the Fromelles battlefield by Martial Delebarre led to him donating Sam and Eric’s medals for display in the Fromelles Museum and that his family had been pleased to welcome Martial and Catherine to Australia, culminating with a Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Jim concluded by saying
Sam and Eric and Jim arrived at Fromelles together; they fought there together,
Sam and Eric died there together; they lie there together.
The Wilson family will always remember them.
The family has also been comforted by the commitment by the people of Fromelles and their children through the care of Sam and Eric’s graves, that the preservation of their memory in Fromelles is assured for years to come.

Eric and Sam WILSON’s medals in the Fromelles Museum and their graves being cared for by Fromelles schoolgirls and schoolboys. Images supplied by Jim Munday

Pastor Bob Durbin led a Prayer and Blessing.

The Consul-General for the Republic of France, Mrs. Anne Boillon, delivered a Message from France, expressing appreciation for Australian support since The Great War and continuing today. As democracies, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Belgium and France have many shared values, as was the case during the Great War – typified by friendship, loyalty and what Australians call “mateship” and we French call “fraternity” – and it is important that we transmit these values to the new generations. As war has suddenly returned to Europe, both Australia and France are together supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression with the courage and determination shared and admired all those years ago. She also paid tribute to the work done at St Clare’s College, Waverly and saw the strength of the bond between Australia and France today. She concluded by saying:
“The French people everywhere do remember the sacrifice of the Australian soldiers at Fromelles, at Villers Bretonneux and on the Somme and the importance of keeping the memory alive. So lest we forget, long live French-Australian friendship.”

The Epilogue was delivered by Geoffrey Benn, President Fromelles Association of Australia.  
Firstly, he thanked all those who had been involved in organising the Commemoration for helping to ensure that the Battle of Fromelles is never forgotten. Secondly, we remembered the citizen soldiers who heard the call and took on responsibilities with consequences they did not fully understand and gave up their vocations to do what they saw as their duty, he then thanked the current professional soldiers, both full-time and part-time, for their preparedness for taking on the unforeseen risks and challenges in our technological and dynamic world.

Geoffrey then observed that the request of the 5th Division veterans in 1966 for the Trustees of the Memorial to always remember, on the anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles, the service and sacrifice of their 5th Division comrades who died during the Great War and others who had died since then, had been honoured each year by the Trustees as we do today.

Geoffrey reflected that the casualty statistics of the Great War are only one aspect of the story of the AIF with 308,000 AIF soldiers who served in an overseas theatre of war. 137,013 were wounded with 208,000 hospitalisations, a rate of hospitalisation higher than for other similar sized countries. The men of the AIF were decimated. Geoffrey indicated that it is now known that in the 10 years following the end of WW1, another 60,000 of those who returned, died. Geoffrey suggested that we can only speculate on how many suffered from long term disabilities or became alcoholics, or drug dependent, or whose families suffered. Many ended their lives only to be buried in unmarked graves.

Fromelles’ place in Australia’s history is that it was the first location on the Western Front in France where Australian soldiers fought the opposing German forces. More soldiers died in the Battle in a single 24 hour period, than any other. But these blunt figures do not tell the family details which relate to Fromelles. Geoffrey gave the example of Alexander Mclean and his 2 sons, Alexander and Victor, who all fought with the 60Bn in the battle. Alexander (senior) was initially reported missing in action but later reported safe. Both of his sons were Killed in Action. Jim Munday today has told us of the tragedy of the Wilson brothers experience, and it was a tragedy repeated in many homes across the country with at least 16 sets of brothers who fought at Fromelles. Geoffrey then honoured these brothers and their families by recalling their names.

250 of the soldiers killed in the Battle remained missing for 91 years until their mass grave dug by the Germans after the Battle was discovered at Pheasant Wood in 2007 after strong advocacy by amateur historian Lambis Englezos and his supporters including the FFFAIF. Unusually, the site next to the Wood had not been disturbed since then – it had been unproductive for farming (probably due to the lime spread on the bodies and the debris of war buried in some of the pits and the high water table), overhead powerline pylons straddled the site and a nearby NATO gas pipeline by-passed the site and no roads or railways have been built in the area.

Geoffrey revealed that within the tragedy of Fromelles there is something unique – an untouched communal war grave, that through the technological advances of DNA and archaeology, combined with the meticulous record keeping by the Germans in compliance with the Hague and Geneva Conventions, families of soldiers killed in the battle have been brought together to understand their genealogy and family history and their connection to Fromelles. Geoffrey said Fromelles was to his knowledge, the only battle that we can say today we know collectively the families who are related back 3 and 4 generations to the soldiers who served together at the Front. More than 3,000 individuals have donated DNA samples in the hope of being able to match one of the remaining 84 soldiers who were buried near Pheasant Wood but do not yet have their own named headstone, as 166 now do.

Geoffrey concluded that it means collectively we understand who these men were and the impact of the battle of Fromelles through the generations in a way not possible in other battles. So we know many of these men, almost like our ancestors did, and we honour them for what they did. Lest we Forget.

The singing of the National Anthems of France, New Zealand and the United Kingdom and Australia was led by The Australian Amy Band Sydney Vocalist LCPL Jade O’Halloran accompanied by MUSN Sean Henderson on piano.

Australian Army Band Vocalist LCPL Jade O’Halloran accompanied by MUSN Sean Henderson singing the National Anthems of France, New Zealand and The United Kingdom.

Jade then sang The Recessional to close the Service in the Auditorium as participants, maintaining physical distancing, passed beneath the Ocular as they moved through the Hall of Service and into the Hall of Memory.

Army Musician Jade O’Halloran leads The Recessional and The Hall of Memory viewed through the Ocular above the Hall of Service.

Wreath laying, Casting Commemorative Stars and the Last Post Ceremony

Gathering for wreath-laying in the Hall of Memory [Click on images to see more detail]
Jill Hayes, FFFAIF Committee Member; Victoria Benz, DVA Deputy Commissioner NSW/ACT; Geoffrey Benn, President Fromelles Association; Arline Ronsisvalle, Australian World War One Descendants Secretary; Jonathan Cook, Deputy Consul-General of the UK; LTCOL Ian Henderson, Remembrance Driveway Council; WO1 Darryl Holzhauser, RSM The Australian Army, Joint Ceremonial NSW; Dr Marjorie O’Neill MP, Member for Coogee; Tim James MP, Member for Willoughby; Anne Boillon, Consul-General Republic of France; Howard Collins, Chief Operations Officer, Transport for NSW; Michael Caluwaerts, Belgium Consul; Vocalist LCP Jade O’Halloran, The Australian Army Band Sydney; Jim Munro, FFFAIF President; Unidentified; Bernard Fontaine, representing the French, Veterans Association of New South Wales; Trevor Edwards; Bill Dobbie, New Zealand Consul-General; John Thomas, Forgotten Diggers, Phillip Chin, Director, RSLNSW; Roger Selby, President NAJEX; Commodore Michael Flynn, RUSI NSW; Dr Brendan Nelson, Chair Australian War Memorial Council; Bill Phippen, Australian Railway Historical Society; Alexander Weilsman, Protocol Manager Transport for NSW & Remembrance Driveway Council.

Descendants and the general public who were not able to be invited to physically attend due to the capacity limits applying at the Anzac Memorials during the pandemic were invited to send the names of soldier they wished to commemorate. About 400 soldiers were nominated for commemoration and their names were added to Commemorative Stars, the same shape and colour as the 120,000 stars fixed in the Dome of Star above the Hall of Memory and symbolically representing the 130,000 men and women from New South Wales who embarked for overseas service during the Great War. Soldiers commemorated included those men of the 53Bn who originally served in the 1st Bn, those soldiers known to be buried in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, 52 Railway and Tramways employees and 11 Jewish soldiers killed in the Battle of Fromelles as well as other soldiers nominated by descendants. Participants attending the Commemoration were invited to cast the Commemorative Stars with soldiers’ names into the Well of Contemplation at the Anzac Memorial. The Commemorative stars were then collected for cremation at Rookwood and the ashes will be taken by the Premier’s Anzac Scholars to the WW1 battlefields.

DVA Deputy Commissioner NSW/ACT, Victoria Benz, President Fromelles Association Geoffrey Benn,
Australian World War One Descendants Secretary, Arline Ronsisvalle; Deputy Consul-General of the UK, Jonathan Cook; Remembrance Driveway Council, LTCOL Ian Henderson; The Australian Army, Joint Ceremonial RSM, WO1 Darryl Holzhauser

In the Hall of Memory Dr Marjorie O’Neill MP, Member for Coogee; Tim James MP, Member for Willoughby;
Anne Boillon, Consul-General Republic of France; Howard Collins, Chief Operations Officer, Transport for NSW; Michael Caluwaerts, Belgium Consul; Marie Gittard, French Veterans Delegate General for Australia; Bernard Fontaine, representing the French Veterans Association of New South Wales; Bill Dobbie,New Zealand Consul-General; John Thomas, Forgotten Diggers, Phillip Chin, Director, RSLNSW

Laying the wreath for the 5th Division

In 1966, more than 500 veterans of the 5th Division marked the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles with a Parade from the Archibald Fountain and joined about 300 people unable to march at the Ceremony by the Pool of Reflection at the Anzac Memorial. It was the last Parade for the veterans. (See Annexure C: Fromelles 50th Anniversary – A record of the Parade and Ceremony held in Hyde Park on 19 July 1966 and Extract from Reveille May 1966 and September 1966).
The Parade carried their request to the Trustees of the Anzac Memorial to always remember on 19 July 1916 their 8,100 comrades Killed in Action during the First World War and those who had died since.
The Trustees agreed to this and each year the 5th Division AIF Wreath Stand has been brought out to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle at Fromelles, usually the 19th July each year and usually in the France and Belgium niche (there have been some variations as the Commemoration has grown and when COVID restrictions were in place).

In acknowledgement of the commitment made in 1966 the Trustees of the Anzac Memorial to honour the men of the Fifth Division AIF and the Battle of Fromelles, a wreath was laid by two representatives of the Trustees:
Mr Tim James MP, Member for Willoughby representing
The Hon. Dominic Perrottet MP, Premier of New South Wales and his Proxy as Chair of The Anzac Memorial Trustees, the Minister for Veterans, The Hon David Elliott MP; and
Dr Marjorie O’Neill MP, The Member for Coogee, representing The NSW Opposition Leader, Mr Chris Minns MP and his Proxy as Trustee, the Shadow Minister for Veterans, Mr Greg Warren MP.

The wreath in tribute to the 5th Division AIF.
Lower images by 7 Network NEWS

Piper Jim Braid, NSW Scottish Regimental Association Pipes and Drums, supported by Bugler, Terry McCleary took up his position to play a Lament during the wreath-laying. Jim Braid is a relative of Sgt James Dodd 53Bn and Pte Downie Dodd 55Bn KIA Fromelles.

 

Commemorative Wreath laying in Hall of Memory

Master of Ceremonies Darren Mitchell then called forward the following dignitaries to lay their wreaths together (shown left to right below):

Mr Tim James MP, Member for Willoughby representing
The Hon. Dominic Perrottet MP, Premier of New South Wales and Chair, The Anzac Memorial Trustees and
the Minister for Veterans, The Hon David Elliott MP laying a wreath on behalf of the NSW Premier and Government of NSW; with
Mr Phillip Chin Board Director, for Mr Ray James, President, The Returned and Services League of Australia NSW Branch, laying a wreath for those who served.

Images by Community Photography, Paul Simadas and 7 Network NEWS

Consul-General Republic of France Mrs. Anne Boillon, laying a wreath on behalf of the Citizens of France.
Belgium Consul Michael Caluwaerts representing the Ambassador of Belgium, His Excellency Mr Michel Goffin, laying a wreath on behalf of the Citizens of Belgium.
Deputy Consul-General of United Kingdom Mr. Jonathan Cook Consul-General of United Kingdom laying a wreath on behalf of the Citizens of United Kingdom.
Consul-General of New Zealand Mr. Bill Dobbie laying a wreath on behalf of the Citizens of New Zealand.

WO1 Darryl Holzhauser, Regimental Sergeant Major, Joint Ceremonial NSW of the Australian Army, laying a wreath on behalf of The Australian Defence Forces for those who have served and currently serve.
Ms Victoria Benz, Deputy Commissioner NSW & ACT, representing the Department of Veterans’ Affairs laying a wreath for War Veterans.

Lt. Col, Ian Henderson (Rtd), representing the President, Remembrance Driveway Committee

Images by Community Photography and 7 Network NEWS

2022 07 19 Fromelles-108 Hall of Memory Geoffrey Benn, Arline Ronsisvalle, Howard Collins, Jim Munro, Brendan Nelson.jpg
2022 07 19 Fromelles-114 Hall of Memory Geoffrey Benn, Arline Ronsisvalle, Howard Collins, Jim Munro, Brendan Nelson.jpg
7 Network NEWS

Geoffrey Benn, President, Fromelles Association of Australia with
Arline Ronsisvalle, representing Australian World War One Descendants (AWWOD) laying a wreath on behalf of World War One descendants;
Howard Collins OBE, Chief Operations Officer, Transport for NSW laying a wreath for the 52 NSW railway and tramway men who died at Fromelles and those who survived.
Jim Munro, President Families and Friends of the First AIF with
The Hon Dr Brendan Nelson AO, Chair, Australian War Memorial Council and Honorary Member, Families and Friends of the First AIF laying a wreath for the Fallen at Fromelles

Images by Community Photography and 7 Network NEWS

Annette Tebb, descendant of Ernest Jentsch, 53Bn, KIA Fromelles and honouring Madame Demassiet and in tribute to those soldiers now lying in Pheasant Wood Cemetery

Commemorative Stars

Crowning the Hall of Memory is a domed ceiling covered with approximately 120,000 tiny golden stars, a symbolic representation of the 130,000 men and women from New South Wales who embarked for overseas service during the Great War.

Each participant in the Commemoration was given a commemorative star bearing the name of a New South Wales soldier killed during or died of wounds following the Battle of Fromelles. They were invited to cast it into the Well of Contemplation following a moment of reflection.
Stars released into the Well are collected and later cremated at Rookwood Cemetery. The ashes are carried on annual pilgrimages by the Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholars to the key battlefield sites of the Western Front, Gallipoli, the Middle East and Asia.

Commemorative Stars Arlene Ronsisvalle, Jonathon Cook, Jim Munro, Dr Majorie O’Neill, Tim James MP, Howard Collins, Anne Boillon, Michael Caluwaerts, Phillip Chin, Bill Dobbie, John Thomas, Roger Selby, Bernard Fontaine, Alexander Weilsman, Annette Tebb, Bill Phippen, Terry-Anne O’Neill, Julie Searant, Karen Dawson, Bob Durbin
[Click on images to see more detail]

Commemorative Stars: John Hitchen, Jim Braid, Jim Munday, Trevor Edwards, unidentifieds, Barbara McGregor, Brendan Nelson, Nick Doig

Image by 7 Network NEWS

The sculpture Sacrifice in the Hall of Silence and the Commemorative Stars
Images by Jim Munro and 7 Network NEWS

In Silent Contemplation: Tim James MP, Howard Collins, Anne Boillon, Michael Caluwaerts, Phillip Chin, Bill Dobbie, John Thomas, Roger Selby, Bernard Fontaine, Annette Tebb, Bill Phippen, Terry-Anne O’Neill, Julie Searant, Karen Dawson, Bob Durbin, Michael Flynn, John Hitchen, Jim Munday
[Click on images to see more detail]

The Last Post Ceremony

Image by 7 Network NEWS

The Ode was recited by Lt. Col. Paul Simadas RFD before the Last Post was sounded by Terry McCleary of the Fire and Rescue NSW Band followed by the Silence and The Rouse. Terry’s wife Leonie is a relative of Captain Archibald Gunter MC, 54th Bn, Wounded at Fromelles.

The Last Post sounded by Bugler Terry McCleary of the Fire and Rescue NSW Band supported by Piper Jim Braid.jpeg

     

Vocalist LCPL Jade O’Halloran leads the Australian National Anthem, also Master of Ceremonies Darren Mitchell and the Anzac Memorial Eternal Flame

Australian Army Band Vocalist LCPL Jade O’Halloran led the singing of the Australian National Anthem to conclude the Commemorative Service.

Images by 7 Network NEWS [Click on image to see more detail]

Images by 7 Network NEWS

   
Images by 7 Network NEWS [Click on image to see more detail]

Post Commemoration

Following the Commemoration, the wreaths were relocated from the Anzac Memorial to the RSL Life Care ANZAC Village at Narrabeen for distribution throughout the Village for the benefit of residents and staff. Some went to Peter Cosgrove House and were made into small floral arrangements to be enjoyed by the residents.

ANZAC Chapel at ANZAC Village at Narrabeen
Images by Jim Munro [Click on images to see more detail]

In Appreciation

Special thanks go to the Trustees of the Anzac Memorial, their staff, and volunteers for facilitating and assisting in the Commemorative Service. The assistance of the NSW Police Band and the Australian Army Band Sydney have been more instrumental than usual and has significantly contributed important components to the Commemorations that would have otherwise been diminished by the pandemic restrictions. The NSW Police Band provided Drummer Dave Armstrong to accompany the Commemorative Procession and Vocalist Belinda Parsons was to lead the singing, as she did in 2020, however on the afternoon before the Commemoration she had to withdraw. Finding at short notice, an available replacement vocalist with accompanist, who can sing the French National Anthem in French and the bi-lingual version of the New Zealand National Anthem as well as the other National Anthems and hymns is a big ask. However, such is the goodwill between the NSW Police Band and the Australian Army Band Sydney and towards the Commemoration, that the Australian Army Band Sydney stepped up with Vocalist LCPL Jade O’Halloran, who had sung at the 2018 Commemoration of the Battles of 3rd Ypres, and piano accompanist MUSN Sean Henderson. Jade and Sean seamlessly arrived at the Anzac Memorial on the next morning, set up their equipment and Jade led the singing in a polished performance. FFFAIF is most grateful and the feedback from participants has been very complimentary of the Commemoration. FFFAIF also wished Belinda Parsons a speedy return to her work.

Similarly, the presence of the Pastor Bob Durbin, Piper Jim Braid and Bugler Terry McCleary contributed significantly to the formality and dignity of the commemoration. Thanks also to Geoffrey Benn for stepping up as the Australian Flag Ensign, who along with the French War Veterans’ representative Bernard Fontaine, and NSW Police Band drummer Dave Armstrong lead the Commemorative Procession under the guidance of Procession Marshall Paul Simadas.

Special Guests, The Honourable Dr Brendan Nelson AO with Mrs Anne Boillon, Consul-General of France and the other Diplomatic representatives, Harry Allie BEM, Mr Tim James MP and Dr Marjorie O’Neill MP representing Trustees, and Mr Phillip Chin, Director RSLNSW and Jim Munday all enriched the Commemoration.

Procession Marshall Paul Simadas, Master of Ceremonies Darren Mitchell and FFFAIF Committee Member Jill Hayes and Fromelles Association President, Geoffrey Benn helped the Commemoration run smoothly. Mick Flynn for Community Photography has created a good photographic record and the 7 Network News team has created a comprehensive video record. Along with photographs and video recorded by several FFFAIF members, this has enabled this report and associated web-postings to the FFFAIF website at www.fffaif.org.au and Facebook page to provide communications to those unable to attend as well as an archival record.. Thanks also to the 7 Network News team whose 6pm Bulletin report enabled the Commemoration to be shared with a larger number of people.

Special thanks also to the Organising Committee of FFFAIF Members Margaret Snodgrass OAM, Darren Mitchell, Jill Hayes, Paul Simadas, Chris Bryett and Geoffrey Benn, Anzac Memorial Operations Manager Belinda Mitrovich and Visitor Services Coordinator Jim Grey and Event Service Officer Milan Nettleton, and Warrant Officer Class One Darryl Holzhauser, Regimental Sergeant Major, Joint Ceremonial NSW of the Australian Army with support from Nick Young in the NSW Office of Veterans.

A special thanks to the florists who prepared the wreaths as floral tributes, with special appreciation to Bloomey’s Floral Designs for the 4 wreaths that they supplied. Thanks also to Pastor Bob Durbin who arranged for the wreaths to be relocated from the Anzac Memorial following the Commemoration to the RSL Life Care ANZAC Village at Narrabeen to be distributed throughout the Village for the benefit of residents and staff.

Due to the pandemic and its impact, we missed the company of many of our regular participants including:
Past President Russell Curley and FFFAIF Committee Member Margaret Snodgrass OAM (who managed a cameo appearance to receive the Commemorative Procession at the Anzac Memorial);
Professor The Honourable Dame Marie Bashir, AD CVO, former Governor of New South Wales and Honorary Member FFFAIF who has participated each year since 2010 (except in 2014 when she was overseas and 2021 due to the COVID restrictions);
FFFAIF Committee Member Chris Bryett who has been heavily involved in the search for the “missing” of Fromelles,
The NSW Police Band and the Australian Defence Force Flag Orderlies; and
Some representatives of ex-service and descendants’ organisation as well as descendants of the soldiers of the First AIF.
We know that some held personal commemorations and we hope that they will be able to participate in future commemoration to honour the service and sacrifice of the soldiers of the First AIF and their families.

A copy of this report and some of the photographs have been posted to the FFFAIF website at www.fffaif.org.au and Facebook page which are still available for viewing.

Lest We Forget

Jim Munro,
President of FFFAIF
July 2022

 

Annexure A: Vice Regal Message from His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia

Annexure B: Order of Service

Annexure C: A record of the Parade and Ceremony held in Hyde Park on 19 July 1966