Friday, April 30, 2010

Lest We Forget (Canberra, Australia) - Part Three


Continuing from parts one and two of the highlights of the Australian War Memorial...

I approached the information desk to enquire about a relative lost in the second World War. Within a few minutes I had an extract of his service record – he died in an accident while seconded to the British Airforce at just 26 years of age. With a red poppy and a cross reference as to his location on the Roll of Honour, I proceeded to the Roll of Honour area. Separated by

Two huge bronze boards flank the length of the building detailing the names of around 102,000 Australians – sorted by war and battalion, but not by rank – one of the most complete lists of those killed at war of any nation on Earth. Whether a private or a general, all have made the ultimate sacrifice. It was with mixed feelings with only the vaguest understanding of what being in a war must be like, I squeezed the delicate red poppy next to the name of my relative, lost in the prime of his life like so many others. Other visitors scan for their past relatives in quiet contemplation, painting a carpet of red down the walls.

Dividing the walls, the eternal flame burns and the Pool of Reflection highlights the immense dome of the Hall of Memory in the waters disturbed ever so slightly by the gentle breeze. Looking outwards, the War Memorial stands proudly at the end of a long boulevard of trees, Anzac Avenue, leading over Canberra’s lake to the Houses of Parliament.

Walking into the Hall of Memory, a poignant and solemn space, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, sprinkled in poppies sits painted in the afternoon light from tall stained glass windows. Four massive glass tile mosaics represent the army, navy, airforce and servicewomen lead to a vast vibrant golden dome representing the glowing sun, embedded with the Southern Cross.

The tomb was interred in 1993 under the passionate and heartfelt speech by the Prime Minister of the Day, Paul Keating. To me, his words capture the feelings entrenched in Anzac Day and this wonderful memorial.



He is all of them. And he is one of us.

This Australia and the Australia he knew are like foreign countries. The tide of events since he died has been so dramatic, so vast and all – consuming, a world has been created beyond the reach of his imagination.
...
This Unknown Australian is not interred here to glorify war over peace; or to assert a soldier's character above a civilian's; or one race or one nation or one religion above another; or men above women; or the war in which he fought and died above any other war; or one generation above any that has been or will come later.

The Unknown Soldier honours the memory of all those men and women who laid down their lives for Australia. His tomb is a reminder of what we have lost in war and what we have gained.

We have lost more than 100,000 lives, and with them all their love of this country and all their hope and energy.

We have gained a legend: a story of bravery and sacrifice and, with it, a deeper faith in ourselves and our democracy, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be Australian.
(full speech here)

11 comments:

mazza said...

hi nice post and nice site lets exchange links
http://wondersworlds.blogspot.com/

Mark H said...

@mazza: Thank you but I only exchange with travel blogs.

BarbaraW said...

Mark: This one brought me to tears. Thank you so much for this series.

Mark H said...

@BarbaraW: It is the most moving aspect of the Memorial and its main purpose. A truly tasteful, beautifully architected Mmeory Hall and so well done with the flame and reflection pool.

Anil said...

Excellent series, I thoroughly enjoyed it. You've done a wonderful job of conveying what it must feel like to be at the memorial.

Mark H said...

@anil: Thank youf or your kind words.

Anonymous said...

Very emotional and touchy…though it is the highlights of the Australian War Memorial, but flown into its beautifully encrypted words…Yes, I must salute to the people who laid their lives for Australia…

Mark H said...

@anonymous: Thank you for your kind words around this excellent and moving memorial.

Australian Visa said...

Just have bookmarked your website, and waiting for the next interesting article.

Anonymous said...

As an Australian, visiting the War Memorial is something i look forward to, the hall of memory (the location of the unknown soldier's tomb) is a place that i can stay in happily for a few hours. I have been told by visitors that Australian war history, is none like any country, as it has more soul than any other country's. Visit the AWM, and you'll most probably agree.

Mark H said...

@aust visa: Thank you

@anonymous: As a fellow AUstralian, I am extremely proud of the AWM and think it does a superb job of both recording the history of Australian's involvement in war and as a memorial to those who have fallen in defence of our nation.

 
Related Posts with Thumbnails