*ANZAC DAY, Villers Bret., France. '09

ANZAC DAY 2009 was not only commemorated throughout Australia but also overseas. This week’s report and photographs come from French FFFAIF member Yves Fohlen telling of his experiences at Villers Bretonneux on ANZAC DAY. (49^o53’10.83”N, 2^o30’29.68”E).

Villers Bretonneux Dawn Service

On the 25 April I awakened at 2.45 am…in fact it was easy to awake so early…because I was thrilled to attend the Dawn Service and to meet Australians. It took me just 15 minutes to get to have breakfast and to get ready. To drive on the motorway by night to Villers Bretonneux was a piece of cake..it took me just 55 minutes to reach  Fouilloy. That French village is settled at the bottom of the ridge where stands the Australian National Memorial to the Missing. I parked there and walked up …indeed the best way to reach the Memorial and to easily go through the French Gendarmerie checking points. Weather was bitterly cold and windy for many Australians.

More than 3000 persons came. They were French people, Brits as well. So good for me to hear Australian voices.

As last year, I had decided to stand in the shadow of the night… and alone far from the crowd to attend the ceremony nearby the grave of the most decorated Digger in Villers Bretonneux military cemetery…Lieutenant Eric Edgerton  DSO, MM & bar… and only aged 21 when he was killed. From that spot the view of the coming of the Dawn is very impressive.

Photo: Grave of Lieutenant Eric Edgerton  DSO, MM & bar in 1918 [AWM]

During the ceremony and the talks  I was surprised to see coming a guy wearing the Diggers’ uniform holding Lee Enfield rifle and a Lewis gun… it was a spooky moment… I took him in picture when the Dawn started… it is a “Bonus” I shall never forget and I felt and still feel blessed to have been able to see and to take a photo of that moment. I was so moved that I did not speak to him…Could I speak with a  “ ghost from the past ” ?

Once again the ceremony was highly moving and the talks of interest.

After the Service I met a couple of good mates of mine… and then ‘took off’ to visit as every year a ‘forgotten Digger’…

To be continued  in Yves report from ANZAC Day at Bullecourt. Click here to read this report.

*****

The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French governments for affording Australian and British soldiers – presently buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood – dignified individual reburials in a new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds Minister Snowdon and his British counterpart, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans, Kevan Jones MP, for their joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.