Anzac Day was marked in Dublin with a service at Grangegorman Military Cemetery. (Pic: Patrick Hugh Lynch)
A special ceremony took place in Ireland yesterday to commemorate Anzac Day.
The service took place in Grangegorman Military Cemetery in Dublin just after dawn and was attended by over 100 people.
This year marks the 97th anniversary of Anzac Day, when more than 10,000 Australian and New Zealand troops died in the battle for Gallipoli in Turkey, which began on April 25, 1915.
Ireland has marked the occasion since 2006, with three soldiers from New Zealand and seven from Australia buried at the cemetery in Dublin.
An additional 20 soldiers were laid to rest at other locations in Ireland.
New Zealand, with a population of 1.1 million in 1914, sent 100,000 men and women to the war. 16,700 of those died and more than 40,000 were wounded in battle, according to Australian ambassador Bruce Davis.
Speaking at the gathering, he said Anzac Day can now be thought of as “a defining moment in the development of nationhood in Australia and New Zealand”.
The ambassador spoke of the many thousands of Irish who had taken part in the war, explaining that it was important to remember them also. Mr Davis joined the first secretary at the New Zealand embassy in London, John Riley, to lay wreaths at a memorial to both world wars on behalf of their governments.
In Sydney, the United Irish Ex-Services Association of Australia marched in the Anzac Day parade.
Ireland’s Minister for Defence Alan Shatter also laid a wreath on behalf of the government and people of Ireland.
Current and retired military personnel saluted the flags of the three countries, as the Last Post was played in the background by Bugler John Connolly of the Irish Defence Forces school of music. Chaplain to the Irish Defence Forces, Eoin Thynne, led prayers at the ceremony, remembering in particular those who are suffering as a result of war, terrorism and violence and for the national leaders promoting understanding between people.
He also prayed for those buried in Grangegorman. Representing the Australian Defence Forces, Col John Hutcheson, read the Ode of Remembrance. A two minute silence was conducted by those present, followed by the reveille.
Attendees wore rosemary sprigs in memory of the deceased.
Among those in attendance were new British ambassador Dominick Chilcott, Belgian ambassador Robert Devriese, Garda, Lord Mayor of Dublin Andrew Montague, Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and Lieut Brendan Wallis RN, New Zealand Defence Forces.
Representatives from the Ireland-Australia Association and the New Zealand-Ireland Association were also present.
In Sydney, the United Irish Ex-Services Association of Australia marched in the city’s Anzac Day parade.
