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 Fromelles at The ANZAC Memorial Hyde Park, Sydney on Tuesday 19 July 2016 10:30am for 10:45am
The Commemoration will be preceded by a commemorative walk from the Archibald Fountain to the ANZAC Memorial celebrating the bond between Australia and France in The Great War. Assemble at the Archibald Fountain at 10:15 for 10:30 departure.
Lounge suit, Day wear, Decorations /Medals, Poppy umbrellas
Please RSVP to FFFAIF Commemorations Officer, Mrs Margaret Snodgrass OAM at margaret@forsyth.com.au, or phone: (02) 9419 7411 or mail to: 4 Clanwilliam Street, Willoughby NSW 2068
Melbourne: 1:30pm Fromelles Service and Wreath Laying at the Cobbers Statue, Tuesday, 19 July
This is a joint service hosted by The Shrine of Remembrance and the Friends of the 15th Brigade to remember the 5533 Australians killed, wounded or captured during this disastrous 24-hour battle. 1:30 p.m. at the “Cobbers” statue.
Contacts:
Shrine of Remembrance: Reception <reception@shrine.org.au>
Friends of the 15th Brigade: Graham Williams 0417 360 097 graham.williams4@bigpond.com
Newcastle: 10am Honouring Private Harry Cressy at Sandgate Cemetery, Tuesday 19 July
A Memorial Service will be held to honour the supreme sacrifice of Pte Harry Cressy, 54th Battalion, 1st A.I.F. who fell on the 19th July 1916 by placing a memorial cross at his parents unmarked grave at Sandgate Cemetery with the participation of Cardiff and Boolaroo-Speers Point RSL Sub branch members. Harry’s elder brother Pte Edward Cressy was also wounded in the battle and was wound on two other occasions before returning to Australia in December 1918. There are at least 22 soldiers who fell during the Battle of Fromelles that are memorialised, or should be memorialised, scattered throughout Sandgate Cemetery who will be honoured during this service.
In 2008 FFFAIF member Ross St.Claire came across a portrait of Private Harry Cressy during his research on the 54th Bn and wanted to pass it on to a family member. At a presentation at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne by FFFAIF member Ross McMullin, Lambis Englezos met relative David Meale and arrangements were made for the photo to be presented to David by the then FFFAIF President Russell Curley.
Largely as a result of the research and advocacy of Lambis Englezos supported by FFFAIF members, the site at Pheasant Wood was investigated and the remains of 250 soldiers buried by the Germans were recovered, and reinterred with full military honours. Private Cressy was identified in 2010.
When his parents died, Harry’s grave was unknown, and now he has his own headstone in the Fromelles (Pheasant Woods) Military Cemetery. How appropriate that his parents unmarked grave might now have some form of recognition for both them and their sons Harry and Edward.
Contact: Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery WW1 Researcher, garwood@live.com.au