Anzac Day 2024
On Anzac Day each year, Australia honours those who have served in all wars, conflicts and peace operations. This date marks the anniversary of the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 25 April 1915, and the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, which took place here in the Somme three years later.
The Dawn Service
The Anzac Day Dawn Service 2024 was held at the foot of the Australian National Memorial near Villers-Bretonneux, in the presence of The Honourable Matt Keogh MP, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel, Her Excellency Ms Gillian Bird, Australian Ambassador to France, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, Australia’s Chief of Army, Mr Rollon Mouchel-Blaisot, Prefet of the Somme, General Pierre Schill, Chief of the French Army, and of more than 1,900 attendees mainly from France and Australia.
Let’s take a look at the highlights of this moving service.
The Bullecourt Digger Service
Bullecourt is located north of Villers-Bretonneux in the Pas-de-Calais. This small town was the theatre of two battles involving troops of the Australian Imperial Force in 1917. Each year in honour of the troops that fought here, the town of Bullecourt and the Australian Government pay tribute to Australia’s servicemen and women that have served since the First World War.
