More than 130 000 soldiers lost their lives in the Gallipoli campaign
The dawn service for Anzac Day is observed on 25 April each year. This year’s commemorative dawn service took place at Freedom Park in Pretoria. Proceedings began with a lament being played by a lone piper; this was followed by Major Anthony Sulicich, the Australian Deputy Defence Attache from the Australian High Commission, welcoming guests. Philip Hewitt, High Commissioner of New Zealand, read out the requiem. Ambassador of Turkey Ayşegül Kandaş delivered the words of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey.
“ … You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace.”
High Commissioner of Australia Tegan Brink gave an address, thanking members of the Diplomatic Corp, representatives of the South African government, service men and women, esteemed guests and friends for attending.
Anzac Day was originally conceived to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) who served in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey, their first engagement in the First World War. It is estimated that over 130 000 soldiers lost their lives over the following eight months of the gruelling battle.
Many attendees were seen wearing the remembrance poppy flag that has been worn since 1921 to commemorate those who passed away in wars. The timing of the dawn service is based on the time that the Anzac forces started landing on the Gallipoli peninsula.
Gabrielle Chin, first secretary at the New Zealand High Commission, read the ode:
“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old; age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them.”
The official laying of the wreaths was carried out by the Australian High Commission, the New Zealand High Commission, The Embassy of Turkey, The Embassy of the United States of America and service men and women.
Lest we forget.