RAAF Radschool Association Magazine

Vol 78

Page 10

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ANZAC Day – 2022

The 25th of April was officially named ANZAC Day in 1916. The word 'ANZAC' stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

On the 25^th of April 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula. They became known as ANZACS and the pride they took in that name continues to this day.

Why is this day special to Australians?

On the morning of 25^th April 1915, the ANZACs set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula in order to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies. The objective was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul in Turkey), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, and an ally of Germany. The ANZACs landed on Gallipoli and met fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. Their plan to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915, the allied forces were evacuated. Both sides suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Over 8,000 Australian soldiers were killed. News of the landing on Gallipoli and the events that followed had a profound impact on Australians at home. The 25^th of April soon became the day on which Australians remember the sacrifice of those who had died in the war.

The ANZACs were courageous and although the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives, the Australian and New Zealand actions during the campaign left us all a powerful legacy.

What does ANZAC Day mean today?

With the coming of the Second World War, ANZAC Day also served to commemorate the lives of Australians who died in that war. The meaning of ANZAC Day today includes the remembrance of all Australians killed in military operations.

What happens on ANZAC Day?

ANZAC Day remembrance takes two forms. Commemorative services are held at dawn (the time of the original landing in Gallipoli) across the nation. Later in the day, ex-servicemen and women meet to take part in marches through the major cities and in many smaller centres. Commemorative ceremonies are more formal and are held at war memorials around the country.

Members from Australia's Federation Guard form a

catafalque party around the Tomb of the

Unknown Australian Soldier at the

Australian War Memorial.

A typical ANZAC Day ceremony may include the following features:

an introduction,
hymn,
prayer,
an address,
laying of wreaths,
a recitation,
the Last Post,
a period of silence,
either the Rouse or the Reveille,
and the national anthem.

After the Memorial’s ceremony, families often place red poppies beside the names of relatives on the Memorial’s Roll of Honour, as they also do after Remembrance Day services.

Rosemary is also traditionally worn on ANZAC Day, and sometimes on Remembrance Day. Rosemary has particular significance for Australians as it is found growing wild on the Gallipoli peninsula. Since ancient times, this aromatic herb has been believed to have properties to improve the memory.

The ANZAC Biscuit

During World War One, the friends and families of soldiers and community groups sent food to the fighting men. Due to the time delays in getting food items to the front lines, they had to send food that would remain edible, without refrigeration, for long periods of time that retained high nutritional value; the ANZAC biscuit met this need.

Although there are variations, the basic ingredients are:

rolled oats,
sugar,
plain flour,
coconut,
butter,
golden syrup or treacle,
bi-carbonate of soda,
and boiling water.

The biscuit was first known as the Soldiers’ Biscuit. The current name, ANZAC Biscuit, has as much to do with Australia’s desire to recognise the ANZAC tradition and the ANZAC biscuit as part of the staple diet at Gallipoli.

The ANZAC biscuit is one of the few commodities that are able to be legally marketed in Australia using the word ‘ANZAC’, which is protected by Federal Legislation.

The video below shows you how to make ANZAC biscuits.

2022

This year, with Covid seemingly under control, or more accurately, with restrictions relaxed as Mr Covid is still out there and causing discomfort to a huge number of people, people throughout Australia were once again able to celebrate and commemorate ANZAC Day as they normally would. In the last couple of years people celebrated the Day by holding vigils at home by standing in their driveways at or about an hour before dawn usually with a lighted candle in their hands. Someone up or down the street would either attempt to play the Last Post on either a bugle or trumpet, or someone would broadcast the music from a pair of speakers placed at the curb. Although mass gatherings were not permitted, the people did not forget the significance of the Day.

This year it wasn’t Covid that put a dampener on things, it was mother nature. The eastern side of Oz was abnormally wet. In Brisbane ANZAC Day is usually hot and sunny, with marshals handing out bottles of water to help overcome the heat.

Not this year.

About half-way through the March the heavens opened up and dumped buckets of water on those that that were lined up on the streets. The RAAF were last on the grid, after Army and Navy and by the time the March was completed, everyone was soaked to the bone.

Dianne Pickering, Trev Benneworth - just before the rain rained.

When the rain started, those with a brain found shelter and hoped the rain would have gone by the time their turn to head off arrived – didn’t work. Mother Nature had other ideas.

The WRAAFs also braved the weather and weren’t to be discouraged by a bit of rain. They too lined up in the downpour, patiently awaiting the nod to head off.

The RTFV-35Sqn copped it too, being down the back of the parade they enjoyed a hour of standing in the rain.

Dave Field (banner bearer), John Griffiths (OC), Trev Benneworth, (banner bearer) Narelle Grigoriou (banner bearer over-rider).

At about 11.45am, RTFV-35Sqn stepped off and began the 1Km march through the streets of Brisbane. As usual, and in spite of the terrible weather, thousands of Brisbane people, both young and elderly, lined the route clapping, holding up complimentary signs and shouting ‘thank yous” and even though the weather wasn’t as most would want it, the atmosphere created by those wonderful people made you feel proud to have served.

Click the pic below to see the RAAF and RAAF Associations marching in Brisbane.

As usual, it was the Army who showed us all how to march, though they stepped off early before the heavens opened.

After being dismissed, people who marched under the RTFV-35Sqn and 3Sqn banners headed for the Jade Buddha for a cold one or two, a casual meal and to catch up with mates, some of whom hadn’t been together for some years. The beautiful girls from the Vietnamese Community were there to greet everyone and to hand out a colourful lei. These lovely ladies, along with Thai and Diamond Dang give up hours of their time each year to brighten up a dull old “Old-boys” get together.

We thank them very much.

Once again, members from 35 Sqn at Amberley joined the Associations at the Jade Buddha, led by their new CO, WngCdr David Torrington. It’s great to have the current serving members join us, though they probably get sick of hearing “the way we used to do it”.

John Sambrooks, Secretary/Treasurer RTFV-35sqn Assoc, WngCdr David Torrington, CO 35 Sqn, Amberley.

WngCdr David Torrington, WngCdr Scott Egan - at the handover–takeover ceremony at Amberley.

RAAF Image.

David took over from Scott Egan on the 18^th Jan this year after returning from Italy where he completed a “get to know the C-27 Aircraft course” and of course enjoyed a few plates of spaghetti.

A ceremony was conducted at Amberley on the 18th January 2022 for the handover of command of 35 Squadron. Wing Commander Scott Egan served as the Commanding Officer of 35 Squadron from December 2020 to January 2022 and handed over to Wing Commander David Torrington during the ceremony. 35 Squadron operates a fleet of ten C-27J Spartan transports, providing a light tactical airlift capability for Defence. These aircraft are able to support a range of Defence operations including Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief tasks. During his tenure in command, Wing Commander Egan oversaw support to numerous operations across Australia and the Indo-Pacific region, including evacuations of civilian communities and delivery of emergency services during the 2019/20 bushfire season; maritime surveillance supporting South Pacific nations under Operation Solania; and engagement of remote Indigenous communities through Exercise Christmas Hop.

Dave Torrington was introduced to everyone at the Jade Buddha and gave a brief “this is who I am” speech.