ANZAC and Remembrance Day

ANZAC Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, and is commemorated by both countries on 25th April every year to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War One. It now more broadly commemorates all those who died and served in military operations for their countries in all military conflicts.

ANZAC Day Dawn Service

5:30 to 6:00am (Australian War Memorial) - suggested arrival time from 4:30am.

After the First World War, returned soldiers sought the comradeship they felt in those quiet, peaceful moments before dawn. With symbolic links to the dawn landing at Gallipoli, a dawn stand-to or dawn ceremony became a common form of ANZAC Day remembrance during the 1920s. The first official dawn service was held at the Sydney Cenotaph in 1927.

In Canberra, the screeching of the cockatoos in the early morning chill at the Australian War Memorial gives a distinctive touch to this special day of remembrance. Recently, this event has become very popular, with over 20,000 people attending annually.

For more information visit the Australian War Memorial's Dawn Service webpage.

ANZAC Day Ceremony

10:15am - 12:00pm (Australian War Memorial) - suggested arrival time from 9:45am.

The National ANZAC Day Ceremony includes a march by Australian veterans of wars and peacekeeping deployments along Anzac Parade to the Australian War Memorial Parade Ground. Several local bands participate by performing marches along the length of Anzac Parade. RMC Band provides the official ceremonial and musical components of the ceremony.

For more information visit the Australian War Memorial's ANZAC Day Ceremony webpage.

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day is a Commonwealth day which commemorates the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war, specifically since the First World War. It is observed on 11th November to recall the end of World War One on that date in 1918 (major hostilities of WWI were formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice).

The RMC Band participates in the official ceremony beginning at 10:15am at the Australian War Memorial including the sounding of the Last Post followed by one minute's silence.

For more details on Remembrance Day, visit the Australian War Memorial's Remembrance Day webpage.