Text Box: Australian War Memorial
John and Veronica a
Memorable week at the AWM
to reflect in their footsteps.
Text Box: An Amazing Experience
My wife, Veronica, is the Historian of our family and has spent many hours researching and collating the numerous facets of our extended family culminating in the publication of eight books encasing all members of the family, some dating back to the 14th century. During the process she was amazed to find there were some 200 plus relations who gave their lives for King/Queen and Country that date back as far as the Indian wars prompting her current works titled, “Lest We Forget” A roll Call. There are 56 Australian service personnel whose names appear in the book and are listed on the Honour Board at The Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
As it has been over 20 years since we last visited Canberra and the  War Memorial spending less than a day browsing around, we arranged a visit of one week with the purpose of spending considerable time exploring the many exhibits and inter-active displays. Although unable to spend long periods on our feet, we managed all or part of 4 days at the Memorial. When we planned this trip we had no idea it was to be such an amazing, emotional  and moving experience.
On the Monday we fronted a little after opening time at 10.00am. Our first duty was to locate the 57 relatives whose names were inscribed on the Honour Boards.  As we located each name we placed a poppy beside it in recognition of their sacrifice. It was incredibly time consuming but very emotional, taking about 2 hours. By this time we had both reached the stage where our bodies needed both rest and refuelling so we adjourned to The Landing Place Cafe to accomplish both tasks.
After eating we toured the Hall of Valour where portraits of the 99 Victoria Cross and 9 George Cross winners are displayed with details of their service and, where available, their decorations. I found this section very humbling and, at times, extremely hard to control my emotions. There were many instances where I had the handkerchief out.
After navigating our way around this display we found we had run out of puff so called it a day. We found that the staff were most obliging and tremendously helpful. One only had to give the appearance of doubt and there was someone there to assist with information and or directions.
We reduced Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to half days spending considerable time covering the displays of WWl, WWll, Korean, Vietnam, and all conflicts up to the present day. There was one inter-active display where we sat in a mock-up of a Lancaster Bomber on a raid over Berlin. When the engines started the fuselage vibrated as if you were in a real aircraft looking out of the nose. The scenery was projected on a screen so that you felt you were part of the crew. When you started the bomb-run the bomb-bay doors opened beneath you showing the burning city below. On the return journey the aircraft was attacked by German night fighters and shot down. All the crew bailed out and spent the remaining war years as guests of the Third Reich with the exception of the pilot and rear gunner who were killed in action.  
On the first Wednesday of the month the Federation Guard, a tri-service ceremonial unit of the Australian Defence Force, mount a Catafalque Party around The Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier at 4.00pm and change it at 4.30pm. The party quick-marched in two columns through the main entrance, split at the Pool of Reflection then, with arms-reversed, slow-marched up two banks of 8 stairs to the entrance to The Hall of Memory. As the public are not permitted in The Hall of Memory while the ceremony is in progress, two members of the party remain outside and carry out the drill as if they were around the tomb. After the Catafalque Party was mounted the public were allowed to enter The Hall of Memory but were requested to show respect for the occasion by removing head-gear and not speak to the members of the party. I was completely chocked up when I entered and was unable to talk. It was an effort to control my emotions. (Just thinking of it now causes a lump in my throat).
The drill was exceptional and, anyone who has been in the Service will know that the slow-march on level ground is not the easiest at anytime, especially with arms-reversed, but to have to negotiate stairs in perfect time with your partner without looking down, is no mean fete. 
We did not regret one minute of the time we spent and, although we spent the best part of 4 days, we still did not see alt the exhibits. It is my belief that all Australians should, at some time in their life, either visit the Australian War Memorial, (and I don’t mean just a flash visit), or thoroughly explore the Australian War Memorial web page and have a look the many exhibits.	
John Bates. 
For description of CATAFALQUE PARTY  refer to awm.gov.au 

Our sincere thanks go to the Australian War Memorial for the availability of all the information and photos
of Australians who have lost their lives to fighting for their country.
AWMText Box: The domed Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier stands above the Pool of Reflection and is flanked by the corridors of the Roll of Honour.  The walkways are lined by the names of tens of thousands of Australians who died during wartime

LEST WE FORGET
Text Box: Please take the opportunity to visit Commonwealth War Cemeteries around the world as you have holidays outside Australia.  Our Heroes who died gave their today so you can have your tomorrows.
Text Box:  ww1
TALLENTIRE, ALBERT WILLIAM JOHN 1891-1915   Photo
571 Australian Light Horse Unit 2nd:
SHRAPNEL VALLEY CEMETERY TURKEY
Albert William John Tallentire's name is located at panel 3 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

ARTHUR, LESLIE RAYMOND 1895-1915   Photo
292 Australian Light Horse Unit: 2nd
SHRAPNEL VALLEY CEMETERY TURKEY
Leslie Raymond Arthur's name is located at panel 3 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

MEIKLE, WILLIAM LESLIE d 1917
3010 Australian Light Horse Unit: 5th
KANTARA WAR MEMORIAL CEMETER Country: Egypt
William Leslie Meikle's name is located at panel 4 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

MANNING, CHARLES HERITY d1915  Photo
3365 Australian Field Artillery Unit Text: 3rd A.F.A. Bde.
SHELL GREEN TURKEY
Charles Herity Manning's name is located at panel 13 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial   See his brother Horace Lisle RINTEL

BINNING, WALTER PRIESTLEY 1896-1918   Photo
3407 Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery Unit 4th
HEBUTERNE Pas de Calais France
Walter Priestley Binning's name is located at panel 19 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

CARDEN, JOSEPH 1883-1918  Photo
5001 Australian Tunnelling Corps Unit: 3rd Coy.
HERSIN CEMETERY FRANCE:
Joseph Carden's name is located at panel 26 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

BROWN, ERNEST SAMUEL Lieut. Col. 1876-1915   Photo
2106 Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit: 3rd Bn.
BEACH CEMETERY, ANZAC TURKEY
Ernest Samuel Brown's name is located at panel 35 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

SCHILLING, ERNEST FREDERICK 1885-1917  Photo 
4301 Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit: 5th Bn.
BEDFORD HOUSE CEMETERY Country: BELGIUM
Ernest Frederick Schilling's name is located at panel 45 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial.

GOLDSPINK, WILLIAM HAMILTON HUME-WILLIAM 1880-1916  
2172A 6th Bn., Australian Infantry, A.I.F
VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL SOMME FRANCE
William Hamilton Goldspink's name is located at panel 46 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

GUERIN, [de GUERIN] JOHN FRANCIS MARIE 1884-1916   Photo
3773 Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit 6th Bn.
ETAPLES MEMORIAL FRANCE
 John Francis Marie Guerin's name is located at panel 46 In the Commemorative Area at Australian War Memorial

RINTEL, HORACE LISLE 1891-1917   Photo
(no number listed) Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit: 8th Bn. TYNE COT CEMETERY BELGIUM
Horace Lisle Rintel's name is located at panel 54 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial  See his brother Charles Herity MANNING

CADWALLADER, OLIVER HARRY 1895-1918   Photo
6463 Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit 11th Bn.
METEREN MILITARY CEMETERY France
Oliver Harry Cadwallader's name is located at panel 61 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

PRICE, LESLIE CECIL 1893-1915   Photo
219 Australian Infantry, A.I.F Unit 11th Bn.
LONE PINE CEMETERY TURKEY
Leslie Cecil Price's name is located at panel 63 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

GAYLARD, HENRY CHARLES 1895-1918
2906B Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit: 17th Bn.
NIEDERZWEHREN CEMETERY GERMANY
Henry Charles Gaylard's name is located at panel 82 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

HORSLEY, ROY LOVEL GEORGE. 1895-1916
4155 20th Bn., Australian Infantry, A.I.F
VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL SOMME FRANCE
Roy Lovel George Horsley's name is located at panel 91 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

SCHILLING, STANLEY WILLIAM 1879-1916   Photo
3904 Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit: 24th Bn.
VILLERS-BRETONNEUX SOMME FRANCE
Stanley William Schilling's name is located at panel 103 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

PENNA, ARTHUR 1886-1917    Photo
2458B Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit: 27th Bn
YPRES (MENIN GATE) BELGIUM
Arthur Penna's name is located at panel 111 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial   See brothers Arthur and Herbert PENNA

PENNA, HERBERT d 5/10/1918   Photo   
2423, Australian Infantry, A.I.F. 10th Battalion
BORRE WAR CEMETERY, FRANCE.
Herbert Penna’a name is located at panel 60 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial   Herbert PENNA missed out from my book.

BONSEY, WILLIAM HOLLINGTON 1876-1916  Photo
4076 - 39 Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL - FRANCE
William Hollington Bonsey's name is located at panel 112 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

COBCROFT, ALBERT 1897-1917
1092 Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit 33rd Bn.
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL BELGIUM
Albert Cobcroft's name is located at panel 121 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

SCUTT, Percy Wilfred 1897-1917   Photo
1972 Australian Infantry Unit 33rd Battalion
TROIS ARBRES CEMETERY STEENWERCK FRANCE
Percy Wilfred Scutt’s name is located at Panel 123 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

LIVINGSTONE, CLIFTON ALWIN 1893-1918
416 42nd Bn., Australian Infantry, A.I.F
BONNAY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION SOMME FRANCE. 
Clifton Alwin Livingstone's name is located at panel 135 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

BROWN, RICHARD GAFFNEY 1896-1918
521 Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit 44th Bn.
VILLERS-BRETONNEUX SOMME FRANCE
Richard Gaffney Brown's name is located at panel 137 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

MEDBURY, LESLIE HAROLD 1898-1918   Photo
3270 Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit: 46th Bn.
VILLERS-BRETONNEUX SOMME FRANCE
Leslie Harold Medbury's name is located at panel 142 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

CAVANOUGH, DARCY JAMES 1892-1917
2405 Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit Text: 47th Bn.
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL BELGIUM.
Darcy James Cavanough's name is located at panel 143 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

LIVINGSTONE, D'ARCY YORK 1896-1917  Photo
6572 Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit: 49th Bn
D'Arcy York Livingstone's name is located at panel 148 in the Commemorative
STRAND MILITARY CEMETERY Comines-Warneton Hainaut Belgium
Area at the Australian War Memorial

HEWETT, EPHRAIM ROLAND 1885-1917 Photo
3820A Australian Infantry, A.I.F Unit Text: 51st Bn
MONT HUON MILITARY CEMETERY, LE TREPORT FRANCE
Ephraim Roland Hewett's name is located at panel 153 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

GRENFELL, WILLIAM NOEL Died 15 August 1918
4909 Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit: 53rd Bn
BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY Surrey. United Kingdom
William Noel Grenfell's name is located at panel 157 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

TREVOR-ROPER, HUBERT 1877-1918
4398 Australian Pioneers Unit: 2nd
RIBEMONT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, SOMME FRANCE
Hubert Trevor-Roper's name is located at panel 173 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial
Text Box: DICKINS, CLAUDE WILLIAM c1891-1917 Photo
468C Australian Machine Gun Corps Unit 24th Coy
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL BELGIUM
Claude William Dickins's name is located at panel 177 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial
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ww2
MEIKLE, RONALD GEORGE 1913-1942   Photo
B2436 Royal Australian Naval Reserve Unit: H.M.A.S. YARRA
PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL United Kingdom
Ronald George Meikle's name is located at panel 9 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

CAVANOUGH, JOHN WILLIAM 1921-1942
SX15196 Royal Australian Artillery Unit: A.I.F. 105 A/Tk. Regt.
SPRINGVALE WAR CEMETERY,MELBOURNE
John William Cavanough's name is located at panel 18 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

TAYLOR, GORDON ERIC 1918-1942   Photo 
SX11499 Royal Australian Artillery Unit: A.I.F. 'L' Hvy. Bty.
RABAUL MEMORIAL NEW GUINEA
Gordon Eric Taylor's name is located at panel 22 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial   See his brother Douglas Roy TAYLOR

LIVINGSTONE, HUGH HENRY 1913-1945  Photo
QX3482 Royal Australian Army 8 Division Signals
Hugh Henry Livingstone’s name is located at panel 27 in the Commonwealth Area at the Australian War Memorial

MATTHEWS, HERBERT BOON 1916-1942   Photo
NX35560 A.I.F. 2/19 Bn., Australian Infantry
KRANJI WAR CEMETERY, SINGAPORE
Herbert Boon Matthews's name is located at panel 43 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

DOBBYN, SYDNEY GEORGE 1904-1945
VX30941 : Australian Infantry Unit: A.I.F. 2/21 Bn
AMBON WAR CEMETERY Indonesia
Sydney George Dobbyn's name is located at panel 46 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

SCHILLING, VICTOR GORDON 1918-1942   Photo
VX41250 Australian Infantry Unit: A.I.F. 2/22 Bn.
RABAUL MEMORIAL Papua New Guinea:
Victor Gordon Schilling's name is located at panel 49 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

MIDGLEY, HOWARD WILLIAM 1919-1942    Photo
VX33812 Australian Infantry Unit: A.I.F. 2/24 Bn. EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY EGYPT.
Howard William Midgley's name is located at panel 52 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial
  
MATSCHOSS, ALEXANDER ROY 1908-1942   Photo .
SX14602 Australian Infantry Unit: A.I.F. 2/27 Bn.
PORT MORESBY MEMORIAL Papua New Guinea
Alexander Roy Matschoss's name is located at panel 54 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

CHILMAN, HEDLEY FRANK 1917-1942   Photo
SX4242 Australian Infantry Unit: A.I.F. 2/27 Bn.
PORT MORESBY (BOMANA) WAR CEMETERY Papua New Guinea:
Hedley Frank Chilman's name is located at panel 54 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

RAMSEY, CLYDE RONALD 1918-1942   Photo
SX13905 Australian Infantry Unit: A.I.F. 2/27 Bn.
PORT MORESBY MEMORIAL Papua New Guinea:
Clyde Ronald Ramsey's name is located at panel 55 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

GALE, LESLIE ALLAN 1916-1942
QX18332 Australian Infantry Unit: A.I.F. 2/31 Bn.
PORT MORESBY MEMORIAL Papua New Guinea
Leslie Allan Gale's name is located at panel 59 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

LIVINGSTONE, JOHN SCOTT 1922-1943 POW  Photo
WX17759 Australian Infantry 2/4th Machine Gun Bn.
KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY THAILAND
John Scott Livingstone’s name is located at panel 75 in the commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

MEIKLE, HERBERT JAMES 1921-1943   Photo
VX63457 Australian Army Ordnance Corps
THANBYUZAYAT WAR CEMETERY MYANMAR 
Herbert James Meikle's name is located at panel 90 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

PITMAN, HUGH 1921-1943   Photo
415046 Royal Australian Air Force
PORT MORESBY MEMORIAL Papua New Guinea
Hugh Pitman's name is located at panel 99 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

TAYLOR, DOUGLAS ROY 1920-1945   Photo
416465 Royal Australian Air Force
AMBON WAR CEMETERY Indonesia
Douglas Roy Taylor's name is located at panel 102 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial  See his brother Gordon Eric TAYLOR

GRENFELL, KENNETH HUGH 1915-1943   Photo
403735 Royal Australian Air Force
HARDENBERG PROTESTANT CEMETERY Netherlands
Kenneth Hugh Grenfell's name is located at panel 107 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

PRICE, LESLIE GAUNT 1921-1942   Photo
38217 Royal Australian Air Force
PORT PIRIE GENERAL CEMETERY SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Leslie Gaunt Price's name is located at panel 116 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

MACKINNON, ALEXANDER ALWYN 1928-1947 
168336 Royal Australian Air Force
WAGGA-WAGGA WAR CEMETERY New South Wales Australia
Alexander Alwyn Mackinnon's name is located at panel 117 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

DOBBYN, ROBERT JOSEPH 1923-1944
414211 Royal Australian Air Force
LANVEOC COMMUNAL CEMETERY Finistere. France.
Robert Joseph Dobbyn's name is located at panel 121 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

FAUNT, LINDSAY GORDON 1920-1941   Photo
402649 Royal Australian Air Force
Panel 62. RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Surrey: United Kingdom
Lindsay Gordon Faunt's name is located at panel 122 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

HABERECHT, LEONARD BURTHAM 1922-1943   Photo
413377 Royal Australian Air Force
BATH (HAYCOMBE) CEMETERY. Somerset Country: United Kingdom
Leonard Burtham Haberecht's name is located at panel 123 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

LIVINGSTONE, RICHARD BRUCE 1916-1945 
419273 Royal Australian Air Force
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL ENGLAND UK
Richard Bruce Livingstone’s name is located at panel 125 in the Commemorative Area at the Ausralian War Memorial

LIVINGSTONE, DAVID 1924-1945 
421540 Royal Australian Air Force
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL England UK
David Livingstone’s name is located at panel 125 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

MOONEY, LANDON PLEASANTS 1914-1942
403063 118 (R.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Australian Air Force
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Surrey United Kingdom
Landon Pleasents Mooney's name is located at panel 127 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

MULLINS, WILLIAM MURRAY 1914-1943 Photo
418542 [V53920] 5 OPERATIONAL TRAINING UNIT SIGNALS 4 DIVISION
EGLANTINE CHURCH OF IRELAND CEMETERY, County Down, United Kingdom.
William Murray Mullins's name is located at panel 127 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

WEBB, WILLIAM BRYCE 1922-1944 Photo
413052 Royal Australian Air Force
BOISSY-SOUS-ST. YON COMMUNAL CEMETERY FRANCE
William Bryce Webb's name is located at panel 132 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

GRENFELL, CHARLES NORMAN 1910-1946
VX84326 Royal Australian Engineers Unit 43 Landing Craft Coy MEREDITH PUBLIC
CEMETERY VICTORIA AUSTRALIA
Charles Norman Grenfell’s name is commemorated at panel 85 in the Commemorative   Area at the Australian War Memorial