Australian War Memorial, Canberra

ANZAC HALL, another fantastic exhibition showcasing large objects from the war years and using sound and light to tell compelling stories of Australia’s servicemen and women.
A lot is a permanent exhibition..... showcasing the Great war in the air, the stories of military flight and aerial combat during the First World War.

There is a stunning re-creation of a night operation over Berlin in 1943, featuring the famous Lancaster bomber "G for George". This exhibition, called "Striking by night," tells of the exploits and experiences of the people, from both sides, who lived through the bombing offensive.

Of particular interest is the famous midget submarine, assembled from sections of two of the three submarines that raided Sydney in 1942, this area also had an excellent sound and light show.

Just a little bit about the Sub................and how lucky Sydney and Australia was..............there could have been a very different outcome.

The remains were only discovered in 2006, by some divers off Sydney's northern beaches.

On the night of 31 May 1942 three Japanese midget submarines entered Sydney harbour. One became entangled in the boom net across the harbour, and her occupants blew her up. A second entered the harbour and fired torpedoes at the cruiser USS Chicago. They missed the Chicago but one hit the barracks ship HMAS Kuttabul, killing 21.
This midget submarine disappeared, its fate a complete mystery.
A third midget submarine also entered the harbour but was destroyed by depth-charges before it had fired any torpedoes.

The submarine in the Memorial's collection is a composite of two that entered the harbour.

A MUST VISIT IN THE WAR MEMORIAL

ENTRY to the War Memorial is FREE, but please give a donation to keep it running,

IT IS A WORLD CLASS MUSEUM

Open 10 -5 pm Daily

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THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL................
It would be a shame if you missed out on the “Hall of Memory.”
This magnificent building can be found at the end of the “Pool of Reflection.”

Inside on the walls are beautiful Mosaics and the Stained glassed windows are beautiful. These were designed by an Australian artist, Napier Walter.

The Mosaics were completed in 1958, and consist of over 6 million tesserae imported from Italy. There is a symbolic meaning attached to each element of the design.
The stunning mosaic in the dome, is divided into 7 segments, representing Australia’s 7 pointed federal star.

The open hands symbolize the earth giving up the souls of the dead, who rise in the form of winged sarcopahagi towards the sun, the symbol of eternal life. The circular cornice incorporates such Australian motifs as wattle leaves and black swans, and an unbroken gold chain, symbolizing continuity.

The stained glass windows have meaning too. Each of the 15 panels in the three stained glass windows portrays an Australian in the uniform and equipment of WW1.

The south window depicts PERSONAL QUALITIES

The west window depicts SOCIAL QUALITIES

The east window depicts FIGHTING QUALITIES

This hall is magnificent, a place to stand and admire, and to reflect.

Please remember to be quiet, and to keep children under control. You are allowed to take photos.

This is to remind us about the Rats of Tobruk, so called because of an epic struggle against great odds during the Second World War. Bunkered down and resisting the Axis onslaught, the troops carved a niche for themselves and their country on the international scene.

The original lumbering giant, with its twin turrets on the side, was a monster that weighed 28 tons and carried a crew of 8. Since its British inventors wanted to keep it a secret until it was ready they told people that it was a water tank, hence the name.
Sadly, it had one inherent flaw. Whilst making its way through, say, the sodden fields of Flanders, it had a tendency to sink in the mud. Not good for mobility.
Enter the French option, a Renault FT17 light tank crewed by only two men and a forerunner of the modern style. Bedecked in its natty colouring (did that really camouflage it?) it debuted with limited success late in World War I.

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This is, without question, one of the "must-see's" of the Australian tourist circuit. Its fame is world wide and rightly so. What it promises, it delivers. It is a sombre monument to the folly of war, perhaps at times glorifying moments but always reminding one that wars are appalling things to have to endure.
In the ensuing pages I will elaborate on certain aspects for you.

This museum has the largest collection of VCs (Victoria Crosses) anywhere. This was the highest order that a serviceman from the then British Empire could attain. The words "for valour" are enscribed on the medal and many were awarded posthumously. Heroic tales of how the medals were won are writ large in front of them, evoking deeds of times past. One wonders if it could be a VC winner that lies beneath the eternal flame.
It seems to be a world-wide phenomenon, the tomb of the unknown soldier. Knowing that a single unidentified serviceman's remains are interred at a particular point, representing the millions killed during the conflicts, has a certain poignancy about it.
Due reverence is paid and, at the end of the day, a small ceremony takes place here at the eternal flame that highlights the tomb.

If you dont do anything else in Canberra, at least head off to the Australian War Memorial. I myself have been there about 6 times, and each time I go, find something else that captivates me.
The entire place is steeped in History, going back to the Boer war through to the Gulf war.
A warning though, you will need a few hours to look all the way through it.
The highlight is the Tomb of the Unknown soldier, so very quiet and spooky

How fortunate for the world that one of the soldiers of the light horse of the Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division who came across it in 1917 during the second battle of Gaza was an amateur archaeologist otherwise we wouldn't have this wonderful piece preserved and protected from further harm where future generations will be able to enjoy it.

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A visit to this outstanding memorial is not just an educational experience but a lasting lesson for all- that WAR is evil and PEACE must be preserved and defended even by our precious lives!

At least those were the things that stuck to my family as we view the awful sacrifices made since time past by our men and women in the military and defense forces here and abroad to defend democracy! The peacekeeping that Aussies do overseas particularly in troubled places are just commendable. We do need this MEMORIAL to remember why, what, and how people do love PEACE and abhor WAR!

The irony is we need to shed precious lives, most of the time use VIOLENCE to justify preserving PEACE.As much as possible I wish Australia will thoroughly examine which nations are deserving of its help and support and not gamble with innocent lives!

I hope generations to come will learn this valuable lesson about WAR and PEACE!

The photos will speak for themselves as we browse through the exhibits! You need at least half a day to see everything!Admission is FREE!

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Anzac Parade is Canberra’s main ceremonial avenue forming part of the Burley Griffin axis joining Mount Ainslie summit, the Australian War Memorial and the Old and New Houses of Parliament. It runs from the War Memorial to Lake Burley Griffin and is easily distinguished by its red gravel (symbolising blood?) central strip flanked by Victorian blue gum eucalypt trees and by 11 memorials to various campaigns and units of the military forces. The planter boxes, symbolizing the connection with New Zealand, contain a native New Zealand plant, hebe – morning glory. You can get an excellent view of Anzac Parade from the summit of Mount Ainslie or closer up from the main steps of the War Memorial.

Anzac Parade was officially opened on 25 April 1965 to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the Anzac (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) soldiers landing in Gallipoli (Turkey) on 25 April 1915.

The memorials along the parade are:

Australian Hellenic Memorial
Australian Army National Memorial
Australian National Korean War Memorial
Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial
Desert Mounted Corps Memorial
New Zealand Memorial
Rats of Tobruk Memorial
Royal Australian Air Force Memorial
Australian Service Nurses National Memorial
Royal Australian Navy Memorial
Kemal Ataturk Memorial

Click on each memorial name for a brief review. The reviews you will find are based on information available on the memorials themselves in addition to factual data sourced from other locations. With a few exceptions I have resisted to temptation to add my personal feelings - readers will have or create their own impressions.

War is an awful thing and visiting these memorials and thinking about the thousands and indeed millions who have had their lives cut short as a result of war will drive that point home - it certainly does for me each time I walk or drive down Anzac Parade. There is no glorification of war here.

Given the high level of symbolism contained in the majority of the memorials I encourage you to read the reviews prior to visiting them - I think you will gain more from your visit by so doing.

Even for those with no interest in the history behind these memorials a visit purely for their aesthetic appeal is worthwhile.

The memorials are listed above in the order you will find them if you walk down the right hand side of the parade (towards the lake) and back up the other side to the Australian War Memorial. The easy walk, from and back to the War Memorial, is 2.5kms. Allow yourself at least 1.5hrs.

LEST WE FORGET