Sydney Wednesday 3 September 2014   Go to Guadalcanal Go to Rabaul

Another great commemoration at Martin Place, Sydney on Wednesday 3 September 2014. The oration was delivered by The Hon Charlie Lynn MLC, the video below lets you experience it in full. The Hon Barry O'Farrell was also there, as was The Hon John Robertson MP, leader of the NSW Opposition as were representatives of the Prime Minister, the Lord Mayor of Sydney, and consuls from Papua New Guinea, the United States of America, Indonesia, Malaysia, East Timor, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. There were over 500 spectators, and many participants. The photos show the ceremony.

CLICK HERE to download the paper Charlie Lynn contributed to the RUSI of NSW Journal.

Rabaul Thursday 11 September 2014   Go to Sydney Go to Guadalcanal

2014 was the centenary of the ANMEF expedition to take the German radio station at Rabaul and secure what was then German New Guinea. At the battle of Bita Paka on 11 September 1914, the first Australians in Australian uniform died in World War 1. At the ceremony on 11 September 2014, attended by our national president Major General Greg Melick, AM, RFD, SC; those of the 2/22 Battalion who attempted to defend the island in 1942 and paid the ultimate price were also honoured.

Photos (Rabaul report) - John Hitchen

Honiara 8 and 9 August 2014   Go to Sydney Go to Rabaul

72^st Anniversary of the Guadalcanal landings and sinking of HMAS Canberra Commemorations

For the first time in some years the official Australian commemoration took place on land, at the recently spruced-up memorual erected by the Australian soldiers on operation Anode, the peace keeping mission to the Solomon Islands.

It was complemented by a short solemn ceremony conducted by Australian tourists on a Military History Tours Australia tour at sea over the site where the Canberra lies 800 metres below.