*2009 Memorial Lecture

John Laffin Memorial Lecture

The 2009 John Laffin Memorial Lecture provided an opportunity for more than 50 members of the FFFAIF to gather at the Ashfield RSL to hear this year’s guest speakers’ insights into the actions at Gallipoli during 1915.

Photo: FFFAIF members seated in the Ashfield RSL sub-branch room

Members were greeted by FFFAIF President Russell Curley who introduced each of the speakers. Proceedings commenced with Member Darryl Kelly reciting “The Ode”. The first to address the meeting was Member Joe Crumlin who spoke on Defeat at Gallipoli – The German Connection

Photo: Speakers – Brigadier Phil Carey (Rtd) and Joe Crumlin (l to r)

After an informal lunch break the second speaker Member Brigadier Phil Carey (Rtd) addressed the meeting with his thought provoking 1st of the 1st Landing on ANZAC, giving an insight into the landing of the First Division of the 1^st AIF at Gallipoli. The presentations were followed by a lively question and answer session.

The meeting concluded with Queensland Member Matt Smith who is the Co-ordinator of the Australian War Graves Photographic Archive giving a brief outline of the progress in assembling a collection of photographs of the individual headstones and memorials for the 102,000 Australian soldiers who have died in conflicts during the 20^th Century. The project now has more than 92,000 photographs and work is progressing on developing a website to allow access to the photographs. So, if Members wish to obtain a copy of the war grave of an Australian serviceman who has died in the service of their country, the Australian War Graves Photographic Archive will shortly be able to provide this. In the meantime, Members can monitor the progress by visiting http://www.australianwargraves.org.

Order forms for the much anticipated updated version of Robin Corfield’s Don’t forget me, cobber were available at the discounted price for Members – click here for details.

Before Members dispersed at the conclusion to another stimulating and successful John Laffin Memorial Lecture, they were invited to attend the Fromelles Commemorative Service in Sydney on Sunday 19 July. Details of this service can be found by clicking here.

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The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French governments for affording Australian and British soldiers buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood by German soldiers following the Battle of Fromelles on 19/20 July 1916 dignified individual reburials in a new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds the joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.