2020 Calendar of events
Due to the Corona Virus the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, ANZAC Memorial in Sydney, Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and National ANZAC Centre in Albany were closed to the public but have now re-opened with restrictions on numbers and the times of visits. Please check each venue for the current opening times and any other requirements.
Gatherings such as lectures, meetings and Commemorations can no longer be conducted as they have been in previous years. Events planned by FFFAIF and kindred organisations are impacted and in some cases alternatives are being considered.
This Calendar of events is therefore retained to remind you of key dates and events and will be updated to advise of alternative arrangements, deferrals and cancellations.
FFFAIF Patron-in-Chief, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia has shared a message about the importance of staying connected and looking out for each other during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to view message.
Saturday 18 April 2020
Australian branch meeting of the Western Front Association – rescheduled to November 7th 2020
Location: The Penshurst RSL sub-branch building, 58a Penshurst Street, Penshurst.
“St Albans Anglican Church Roll of Honour” Julie Evans.
A special “show-and-tell” of the Great War collection of relics, weapons, medals and other items held by the Penshurst sub-branch. Sean McManus, honorary curator.
“Magic Lantern Show!” Paul Simadas will present a small selection of recently colourised versions of period photographs taken of the British forces on the Western Front.
Contact: Paul Simadas <wfaaustraliabranch@gmail.com>Saturday 18 July 2020, FFFAIF John Laffin Memorial Lecture series
Rescheduled to Saturday 7 November
Contact: rsvp@fffaif.org.auSaturday 1 August Fromelles Association AGM at Singleton
Alternative arrangements TBA
Contact: Anne Benn, anne_benn@yahoo.com.au
Geoffrey Benn, Secretary, gvb456@gmail.com
Royce Atkinson, President, Fromelles Association
royceatkinson@hotmail.comSaturday 26 September, Commemoration of the Battles of Third Ypres
Alternative arrangements TBA
10:40 for 11;00 Commemoration at the Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park, Sydney
Contact: rsvp@fffaif.org.auSaturday 7 November 2020
Australian branch meeting of the Western Front Association and FFFAIF John Laffin Memorial Lecture series– rescheduled from Saturday 18 April 2020 – rescheduled from Saturday 18 July 2020
Wednesday 11 November 2020, Remembrance Day
Alternative arrangements TBA
10:10am for 10:25am Commemoration at
The Cenotaph, Martin Place, SydneySaturday 14 November, FFFAIF AGM
9:45 for 10am Anzac Memorial Auditorium, Hyde Park, Sydney
Contact: rsvp@fffaif.org.auSaturday 14 November, WFA Branch Lecture Series
11:15 for 11:30am Anzac Memorial Auditorium, Hyde Park, Sydney
Contact: Paul Simadas, Co-Chair of the Western Front Association at wfaaustraliabranch@gmail.comDates in History
August
1 August 1917 Third Battle of Ypres begins.
3 August 1914 Australia offers assistance to Great Britain in the event of War.
3 August 1916 Australian Light Horse in Battle of Romani, Egypt .
4 August 1914 Great Britain Declares War on Germany.
6 August 1915 Battle for Lone Pine, Gallipoli.
7 August 1915 Australians charge at the Nek, Gallipoli.
8 August 1916 Battle for Moquet Farm.
8 August 1918 Battle for Amiens begins.
10 August 1914 Voluntary recruitment for the 1st AIF begins.
13 August 1914 Establishment of the Australian Red Cross.
19 August 1914 Expeditionary force sails from Australia to capture German possessions in the Pacific.
21 August 1915 Last major fighting on Gallipoli takes place at Hill 60.
24 August 1916 Official inauguration of the Australian Comforts Fund (ACF).
26 August 1916 6th Australian Brigade attacks Moquet Farm on the Somme.
31 August 1918 Battle of Mont St. Quentin begins.September
1 September 1918 Battle of Mont St. Quentin continues
11 September 1914 Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Force lands at Rabaul.
14 September 1914 HMA Submarine AE1 lost off New Guinea
17 September 1918 Australian attack on Hindenburg Line in the Picardy region of France.
19 September 1918 5th Light Horse brigade capture Nablus.
20 September 1912 Official formation of the Australian Flying Corps.
21 September 1914 German New Guinea surrenders.
25 September 1918 Anzac Mounted Division capture Amman.October
1 October 1918 Australian Light Horse take Damascus.
5 October 1918 Capture of Montbrehai, France by AIF.
10 October 1917 Battle of Poelcappelle, Western Front. (Third Battle Ypres).
21 October 1915 Australian Red Cross Missing & Wounded Bureau established.
21 October 1916 5th Australian Division enter the front line near Flers, Somme.
28 October 1916 First conscription referendum.
30 October 1918 Armistice with Turkey.
31 October 1917 4th Light Horse charge at Beersheba, Palestine.November
1 November 1914 1st AIF Convoy sails from Albany, Western Australia.
7 November 1916 Third Battle of Gaza.
9 November 1914 HMAS Sydney sinks the Emden.
11 November 1918 Germany signs the Armistice. REMEMBRANCE DAY.
11 November 1941 Opening of the Australian War Memorial
14 November 1917 End of Third Battle of Ypres, Western Front.December
2 December 1914 First Australian military aircraft despatched to war.
3 December 1914 First AIF disembarked in Egypt
3 December 1915 Siege of Kut begins in Mesopotamia.
7 December 1915 Evacuation of ANZAC troops from Gallipoli begins.
9 December 1917 Jerusalem occupied by the Desert Mounted Corps.
12 December 1917 HMAS Australia damaged in a collision with HMS Repulse.
13 December 1915 Australian Light Horse fight at Um Rakham.
20 December 1915 Last Australian troops evacuated from Gallipoli.
20 December 1917 Second conscription referendum held in Australia.
21 December 1916 Australian Light Horse capture El Arish
23 December 1916 Battle of Magdhaba, northern Sinai
31 December 1914 The second convoy of the First AIF departed Albany Western Australia.January
9 January 1917 Light Horse captures Rafa.
17 January 1917 No. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps sail for France
18 January 1919 Versailles Peace Conference opensFebruary
3 February 1915 Turkish forces attack the Suez Canal
5 February 1917 Captain H.W. Murray wins Victoria Cross in France
19 February 1915 Allied warships shell DardanellesMarch
17 March 1917 Australians occupy Bapaume, Western Front
18 March 1915 Allied fleet second attempts to breach Turkish defences of Dardanelles
20 March 1916 Anzac Corps land in France
21 March 1918 Final German offensive begins
26 March 1917 Captain Cherry, 26th Battalion wins VC at Lagnicourt
28 March 1918 Sergeant McDougall, 47th Battalion wins VC at Dernancourt
31 March 1921 Formation of the Australian Air Force-
Recent News
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- Fromelles Day 2020 Commemorations @ Fromelles, Melbourne and Sydney
- DIGGER 71
- ANZAC Day in the time of Coronavirus
- DIGGER 70
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- Fromelles Day Sydney 2019: Commemorative Procession and Commemoration
Topics
Past News
Photos
- The Families and Friends of the First AIF supports DNA testing on the remains of Australian and British soldiers found on the battlefields of the Great War and efforts to identify as many of the fallen as is possible.
Category Archives: Commemorations
Flanders Memorial Garden dedicated at the Australian War Memorial 4 April 2017
More than 6 000 Australian soldiers are buried in unknown graves in Flanders fields. Now there is a Flanders Memorial Garden at the Australian War Memorial containing soil from those battlefields, Flanders cemeteries and Australian places that the soldiers knew … Continue reading
More Tasmanian soldiers have their Great War service acknowledged
The Tasmanian Headstone Project commenced in 2012 when was discovered that there were a number of returned First World War veterans whose last resting place was no more than a dirt plot within the Cornelian Bay Cemetery located on … Continue reading
Centenary of the Anzac Obelisk on ANZAC Parade, Moore Park Sydney 15 March 2017
The commemoration of the centenary of the Anzac Obelisk on Anzac Parade was held at Moore Park Sydney on Wednesday, 15 March 2017. Official Guests included the NSW Governor, His Excellency General, The Hon David Hurley AC, The Ministers … Continue reading
Commemorations of the Battle of Pozieres, 23 July 1916
The centenary of the Battle of Pozieres is to be commemorated by services in Pozieres as well as in Australia. Pozieres The commemoration service at Pozieres will be shown on ABC TV at midnight (AET) on 23 July, as part of its … Continue reading
Commemorations of the Battle of Fromelles 19-20 July 1916
Fromelles 6 headstones were dedicated at the commemoration service at the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery. Now 150 of the 250 headstones indicate the identity of the soldier whose grave it marks. The identities of a further 78 of the … Continue reading
Commemoration of the Battle of Fromelles 19-20 July 1916
Sydney: 10:15 at the Archibald Fountain, Hyde Park for 10:30 Solemn Procession to the ANZAC Memorial for 11:00 Commemorative Service Tuesday 19 July 2016 The Families and Friends of the First AIF invite you to attend the 100th Anniversary Commemoration of The Battle of … Continue reading
2014 John Laffin Memorial Lecture
Members and their guests are invited to Sunday, 29 June 2014 Speakers:The John Laffin Memorial Lecture. Jim Munro: The Road to the Great War. Richard Wright: Not by DNA alone: the role of archaeology and anthropology at the Pheasant Wood … Continue reading
2014 COMMEMORATIVE TOURS
2014 BATTLEFIELD and COMMEMORATIVE TOURS Following the outstanding success of the 2010 and 2012 FFFAIF Western Front and Gallipoli Commemoration Tours, the Families and Friends of the First AIF are offering a similar chance for association members to partake in … Continue reading
Pozieres Service: Sydney
POZIERES COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE 2013 (Story and photos by FFFAIF Vice President Jim Munro) The annual Commemorative Service for the Battle of Pozieres was held at Saint Columba Church, Woollahra on Sunday 21 July 2013. The band of The Scots College … Continue reading
Gallipoli 2015 Ballot
Are you interested in finding out about attending the centenary celebrations at Gallipoli on 25th April 2015? The Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of Anzac Warren Snowdon provided the following information on 13 May 2013: “A ballot … Continue reading