ANZAC Day 2011

Kerry Sanderson AO, Agent General for Western Australia was among 2000 members of the public, expats and dignitaries who joined to pay their respects at the Australian War Memorial, Hyde Park Corner, London on Monday 25 April. A wreath laying service was also held at the Cenotaph in Whitehall in addition to a commemorative service at Westminster Abbey where pupils from Perth Modern School performed. The Agent General also attended a commemoration and thanksgiving service at St Mary’s, Harefield.

The town of Harefield, near London, was the location of an Australian Military Hospital in World War I and an Australian cemetery was established there in 1921 where 129 casualties (mostly Australian) from both world wars are buried. Since that date, every year on Anzac Day a service has been held in the parish church to honour their memory and sacrifice.

The remembrance services have been made all the more poignant by the passing this week of Claude Choules, the last known surviving veteran of both World Wars. Claude, who passed away in his Perth nursing home, joined the Royal Navy in 1916 when he was just 14 years-old.