On 11th November 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare. With their armies retreating and close to collapse, German leaders signed an Armistice, bringing an end to the First World War.
As a sign of respect, every year Australians are encouraged to pause at 11 am to observe one minute of silence to remember those in the Armed Forces, who are currently serving, veterans, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
It is also a time to reflect on the sacrifices made for our freedoms we have today. The dedication and commitment of our service personnel to help us through our most challenging times never waver, and neither should ours.
I encourage everyone to show their support by pausing for 1 minute at 11am.
The Unknown Australian Soldier
(by the Australian War Memorial for Remembrance Day 2023)
Today marks the 30th anniversary of the interment of the Unknown Australian Soldier.
At the head of the tomb are the words, “Known unto God”, and at the foot, “He is all of them and he is one of us.”
Plans to honor an unknown Australian soldier were first put forward in the 1920s, but it was not until 1993 that one was finally brought home. To mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the First World War, the remains of the soldier were recovered from Adelaide Cemetery near Villers-Bretonneux in France and transported to Australia. After lying in state in King’s Hall in Old Parliament House, the Unknown Australian Soldier was interred in the Hall of Memory at the Memorial on 11 November 1993. He was buried with a bayonet and a sprig of wattle in a Tasmanian blackwood coffin, and soil from Pozières was scattered in his tomb.
To all our members, friends and family who have served or are currently serving in our Armed Forces – We thank you for your service.
Lest we forget.
