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Australian War Memorial

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    • TravelerThis side of things
      Day 227

      War Memorial

      May 9, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

      The Canberra War Memorial is a testament to this countries fallen.

      In england we commemorate our fallen soldiers but the focus is on WW1/2. In Australia they focus on all soldiers in all wars.

      I thought at first that 2hrs in the memorial would be an insanely long time. How wrong I was. The main areas are dedicated to the world wars. The centre for all the recipients of the Victoria Cross, then WW1 on the right and WW2 on the left. The Korean, Vietnaman and Malay wars are also highlighted behind these main exhibits.

      Now, I think I know a fair amount about the world wars. I studied WW1 from a literary view point and WW2 from a political and German view point. But I was astonished how little I knew about Australias aid. I knew that the Japanese sided with the Germans, but I knew nothing more. The amount of blood shed around Asia between the Japanese and Australians is astonishing. I was reading about WW2 and the war on this side of the world and I was floored. If I'm being honest, I thought of the wars as a very European central affair. Of course they were, but I had no clue who much I didnt know.

      I could have spent many more hours here just looking through everything. But it was late in the day when I arrived and I the memorial oses at 4pm unless you stay for the old post.

      The old post is a commemoration done every evening. Both civilians and military personal come down and lay a wreath at the base of the reflecting pond to remeber someone. Around the pond is the names of every Australian soldier who died in a war since the start of WW1.

      At the end of the memorial is the tomb of the unknown solider. Outside the tomb is a plaque with their eulogy printed. Members of the public can purchase a poppy by donating to the memorial and can place that poppy anywhere within the memorial. The gaps between the plaques on the walls are full of these poppies, lighting up the black metal and creating a starting contrast.

      Along the parade between the memorial and the lake is a collection of statues for each war or group. I did not get a photo of every one, but they were beautiful.

      I do not think I will return to Canberra as there is little else to do beyond what I have done today but I would return simply to visit the memorial again. I only got to do less than half of it so would happily go back to do more.      Read more

    • Adventuring Down Under
      Day 88

      Canberra: Australian War Memorial

      March 8 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

      Each state capital we have visited in Australia has a war memorial. Each town has a “Lest We Forget” monument. Canberra — as the capital of Australia — is home to the Australian War Memorial (AWM).

      After a day of resting to jump start our recuperation from whatever bug we had picked up while on the IP, today we headed off to start our Canberra sightseeing at the AWM. (Feeling much better … thank you very much.)

      Established in 1925, the idea for the AWM germinated soon after WWI … to honor service members who served and died in WWI. It was unveiled to the public in 1941. The scope has since been expanded to include not only WWII, but other conflicts in which Australians have served.

      Admission is free, but requires a timed entry — two hour slots. That was nowhere near enough for us as by the end of two hours we had only covered the WWI exhibits in the museum. No worries, a quick visit to the ticket office extended our time another two hours.

      The stories of the Australian men and women who served in military conflicts is told through exhibits, artifacts, and art. There was so much to see and digest. Not to mention share. Not enough time or space to do so in this footprint. So, this one is focused on the art from the museum galleries of the AWM.      Read more

    • Adventuring Down Under
      Day 88

      Canberra: AWM … Hall of Memory

      March 8 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

      From the museum, we continued to the heart of the Australian War Memorial … the Hall of Memory.

      To reach the hall, one must walk through the Commemorative Area with its reflection pool and eternal flame, and the roll of honor on either side … decorated with poppies.

      The hall is where one finds the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier. All of the decorative elements are symbolic in one way or another — the 15 stained glass windows depict servicemen and servicewomen from WWI … each representing a quality such as devotion, candor, sacrifice, and more; mosaics of servicemen and servicewomen of WWII … representing a soldier, a nurse, a sailor, and an airman; pillars representing the four elements … air, fire, earth, and water. The dome — Byzantine in style — is the most recognizable aspect of the AWM.

      As we’ve found in other state memorials, it is a place of solitude and reflection.      Read more

    • Adventuring Down Under
      Day 90

      Canberra: Last Post

      March 10 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F

      Last Post … in the military tradition.

      The Last Post is the bugle call that signifies the end of the day's activities. It is also sounded at military funerals to indicate that the soldier has gone to his final rest.

      When we learned that the daily closing of the Australian War Memorial is preceded by a Last Post, we decided to return this afternoon to participate.

      The ceremony is held in the enclosed courtyard overlooked by the Hall of Memory and the Roll of Honor loggias. This area is known as the Commemorative Area. Each ceremony honors the life and service of a member of the military who has died in service of Country. Family members are invited to attend and lay wreaths. The public is also welcome to attend … spots reserved through the War Memorial ticket office.

      The ceremony includes the playing of the Australian National Anthem; the reading of the life of the honoree; and the sounding of the Last Post. Today’s honoree was a World War I soldier who served in the European Theater of War.

      Very moving ceremony. Glad we were able to participate as a wrap up to our time in Canberra.      Read more

    • Andy n Bunny BriggsAustralia via KL
      Day 115

      War Memorial, Hall of Memory and Museum

      February 3, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

      The war memorial didn’t look much from the top of Mt Ainslie but was an amazing place that, along with the incorporated museum, required two visits to get around the majority of it.

      The Hall of Memory is absolutely beautiful and it was quite a moving experience just being in it. Better pictures and a virtual view is at: https://www.awm.gov.au/visit/visitor-informatio…

      There are stained-glass windows on three sides of the Hall of Memory, each window divided into five panels. Each of the fifteen panels features a figure in the uniform and equipment of the First World War, and typifies one of the quintessential qualities displayed by Australians in war.

      “The Byzantine dome of the Australian War Memorial is a familiar national icon. Its mosaic interior rises to 24 metres above the floor, drawing our gaze upward. From the base of the dome, stylised hands deliver the souls of the dead through clouds and dark blue sky to heaven. The spirits are symbolised by simplified, winged coffins in shapes that suggest Egyptian mummies. From a central spiritual sun, over which the stars of the Southern Cross are superimposed, seven shafts of light radiate to the cornice (the lower rim of the dome) and symbolise the seven-pointed star of Australia.”

      There were many delays from conception to completion of the Hall of Memory. The artworks in the Hall of Memory had not been installed by the end of the Second World War, but it was decided that the stained-glass windows would still be dedicated to the First World War, and the Second was to be commemorated in the wall mosaics.

      The memorial is located so as to be visible from Government House, the rationale being that MPs can see it and should remind them that their decisions have consequences for the people they are there to serve.

      There are the names of over 102,000 Australians who lost their lives in war since the Boer War. A recording of young children reading the names is played during the day. A service is held at 4:55 every afternoon, when the story of one of the servicemen is read out, followed by the last post played by a bugler. On the day we watched, heard about Private Joseph Botrill. During WWI, he had been in France less than a month when he was killed. His body was never recovered. These occasions are all recorded and are available on the War Memorial Website.      Read more

    • Australien
      Day 34

      Roadtrip Tag 4 - Canberra

      March 23, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

      Heute war ein typischer Touristen sightseeing Tag. Nicht unbedingt unsere lieblings Beschäftugung aber wenn man schon mal hier ist muss man auch so viel sehen wie man kann.

      Der Weg zum War Memorial war schon link und rechts mit Denkmälern bestückt. Jeder Krieg in dem Australien beteiligt war wurde hier untergebracht.

      Das Memorial selbst war eigentlich ganz schön. Links und rechts in den Gängen standen die Namen der Gefallenen, geschmückt mit roten Blumen. Hinten gab es dann noch einen Raum unter der Kuppel. Die Kuppel selbst war wunderschön bemalt und die ganze Atmosphere in dem Raum war anders als vorher.

      Eigentlich wollten wir uns noch die Parlamentshäuser anschauen, das alte konnten wir auch schon in der Ferne sehen, aber Canberras Busse hatten da was gegen. Nach einer Stunde warten haben wir uns dann doch auf nach Hause gemacht..      Read more

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    • TravelerThe Gouws’ half lap of Aus.
      1
      Day 5

      Australian War Memorial

      March 3, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

      The Australian War Memorial was truly amazing with fantastic displays. Noah especially love seeing all the tanks and Esmé thought the poppy wall was very pretty.

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Australian War Memorial, Q782783

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