Commemorations and War Graves Australia in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | Government organisation

Commemorations and War Graves Australia

Locality: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Phone: +61 133254

Address: GPO 9998 2600 Canberra, ACT, Australia

Website: https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au

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23.01.2022 Today we are sharing a story sent to us by Lyn Simeon who’s Dad, Keith Hansen, served during the Second World War. Keith was born on 14 April 1923, in Cessnock, New South Wales. His father was Leslie Hansen, who was a prisoner of war in Germany and survived during the First World War. Keith decided to join the armed forces during his first year at teachers college. In December 1941 aged 17, he transferred to Ingleburn with the Sydney University Regiment. At the end of his tr...aining he was transferred to 110 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery at Kensington Race Course, where he did training on Bofors 40mm. During his service, he operated the Anti-Aircraft Guns on Queen Mary and then Queen Elizabeth whilst in Sydney Harbour. Keith also spent time serving in Charters Towers, Queensland. During this posting, he recalls, in his diary, a red alert and later a message that a Kawanishi flying boat had dropped a bomb half a mile (just over 800 meters) out from Townsville. He transferred to Port Moresby in New Guinea where Australian troops were tragically killed when a fully loaded Liberator bomber crashed near his gun pit. He then transferred to Lae where the Japanese were driven out of the area they had occupied since first invading New Guinea. He returned to Australia in 1944 and went into the 113th Australian Military Hospital at Concord for an eye operation. He was discharged from the army to complete his degree in Science and Maths and follow his career as a teacher Keith was just one of the almost one million Australians who served during the Second World War. Thank you for your service. #OneInAMillion

20.01.2022 Would you like a DVA 2021 calendar? This year, our calendar commemorates the men and women who have served Australia in lesser-known roles. Contact us via the Anzac Portal and we'll post you a calendar. https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/about-us/contact-us

20.01.2022 We recently shared a podcast series with you called My Life at War, produced by Uniting. The latest episode explores the moments when the war made it to Australia’s shores. Listen now: https://uniting.org/veterans #MyLifeAtWar

19.01.2022 On 22 November 75 years ago, Mrs Jessie Vasey held the first formal meeting of the War Widows’ Guild, now known simply as Australian War Widows. Dedicated to su...pporting Australia’s war widows, they have grown since that first meeting in Melbourne’s Assembly Hall, and in 2020 they support than 50,000 widows across the country. Formed to support the 10,000 war widows from the Second World War, today the Guild continues to serve Australian war widows from all wars and conflicts, providing financial and health support and companionship through lived experience. Earlier this year, Billie Hughes, a former National and State President of the Guild, was featured in our 75 Days, 75 Stories series, where she spoke about the formation of the organisation. You can listen here: https://www.dva.gov.au/new/75-days-75-stories/billie-hughes Thank you to the Guild for 75 years of supporting Australia’s war widows.

18.01.2022 Good news - we are pleased to announce that the walking trail has been re-opened to the public.

17.01.2022 In this year’s Anzac Day Schools’ Awards we received some outstanding entries with schools adapting to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic to ensure they continued to learn about the men and women who have served our nation. Schools demonstrated innovative and creative ways of learning, including the use of technology like skype to interview veterans. This year’s theme centred around the impact of Second World War on Australian communities and this unforgettable ti...me in our nation’s history. Congratulations to all schools that entered, including all our state and territory winners. A special mention to Golden Grove Primary School in South Australia who took home the national prize. For a full list of winners and other education material visit: http://spr.ly/6189HKfPx

14.01.2022 Amazing work from the National Archives of Australia

12.01.2022 Are you looking for some end of year activities for children? Check out our M is for Mates book for stories about animals during wartime. One sneaky animal was found by Sister Cliff, hiding inside the Christmas decorations in her hospital ward in 1944 can they find it? Ajax the dog is also on each page with interesting facts about different animals. Read it here: https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au///m-is-for-mates-2009_0.pdf

09.01.2022 Just after midnight on this day in 1941 HMAS Parramatta II was sunk off the Libyan coast by the German submarine U-559. HMAS Parramatta II was stationed in the Mediterranean, where it was part of the ‘Tobruk Ferry Service’ which kept the besieged ports supplied. It was on a trip from Alexandria to Tobruk while escorting an ammunition ship that the Parramatta was sunk by U-559.... The attack was quick and efficient, with only those on the ship’s deck having the chance to escape. In total, 24 men survived and 138 were lost. #LestWeForget

09.01.2022 Australia and Malaysia have an enduring partnership which was forged during our nation’s commitment to the defence of the Malayan peninsula in the Second World War. Further to this, during the Second Malayan Emergency, Australian support was vital in helping with local efforts. Rifle Company Butterworth was established in 1970 to provide protection for the Butterworth Air Base during the renewed Communist insurgency in Malaysia. This month Rifle Company Butterworth marked it...s 50th anniversary. Since its inception, over 25,000 Australian Army soldiers have served as part of the company and undertaken joint training operations with Malaysian forces To everyone who has served as part of Rifle Company Butterworth, thank you for your service and congratulations on this milestone. : Australian and Malaysian Army soldiers step off for a pre-dawn patrol ahead of a simulated training exercise in 2016. Photo courtesy of Defence.

08.01.2022 ‘My mum dropped a tear every time the postman came,’ he said. ‘For five years, she got no information. I was the last one home

08.01.2022 Recently the HarbordDiggers RSL sub-Branch received funding through the Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program. With their funding they commissioned the film, ‘Saluting Their Service’. Watch local school students interviewing veterans across many generations, who tell their personal stories of service. The full film is available on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/kriiiF_LwC0

06.01.2022 Earlier today we recognised the 75th anniversary of the formation of the War Widows’ Guild, and highlighted the legacy that Mrs Jessie Vasey created. Now we share the story of her husband, Major General George Vasey. George Vasey entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1913. Vasey's class graduated early and he was commissioned lieutenant in the Permanent Military Forces on 29 June 1915. He then joined the Australian Imperial Force and served with the 2nd Division in ...France during the First World War Vasey remained in the military and as the Second World War began, he was appointed as Sir Thomas Blamey’s Assistant Adjudant and Quartermaster General. During the Second World War, George served in Greece, commanded Australian Forces in Crete, and commanded the 7th Division during the Kokoda campaign. Following a yearlong return to Australia to recover from illness, he boarded a flight to New Guinea to assume command of the 6th Division. Unfortunately, the aircraft he was in crashed into the sea off Cairns, killing all on board. His war grave is maintained in perpetuity by the Office of Australian War Graves in Cairns cemetery. #TYFYS

05.01.2022 #OnThisDay in 1941 HMAS Sydney (II) was sunk off the coast of Western Australia by the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran. The incident was Australia’s great naval tragedy. Disguised as a merchant ship, the Kormoran communicated with HMAS Sydney until it was in close enough range to launch a surprise attack. This led to the sinking of the Sydney, and resulted in the death of all 645 men on board. The wreckages of both HMAS Sydney (II) and Kormoran lay undiscovered for over 60 years until they were found in 2008.

04.01.2022 On this day 78 years ago Ordinary Seaman Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean performed an extraordinary act of bravery to save the lives of his comrades. Today the Governor-G...eneral will present the insignia of the Victoria Cross for Australia to the Sheean family. Teddy Sheean will be the first member of the Royal Australian Navy to receive the Victoria Cross. You can find all the details on the Investiture Ceremony, Last Post Ceremony and more on our website. Explore: https://www.awm.gov.au/edward-sheean

03.01.2022 We encourage community groups and organisations to consider applying for funding from the Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program for projects and activities that mark the 55th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. Grants are also available for projects and activities that commemorate other aspects of the Vietnam War, and other conflicts and operations. Submit your application by 11 February 2021. ... Further information, including how to apply, can be found on the Community Grants Hub website: https://www.communitygrants.gov.au//saluting-their-service

03.01.2022 Today we meet Thibaut from the Sir John Monash Centre. Watch to learn about the Centre’s tribute walls.

01.01.2022 Today, on #InternationalVolunteerDay, we’re sharing the story of Australia’s Volunteer Defence Corps. In July 1940, almost a year since Australia had entered into the Second World War, the Returned Sailors’, Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Imperial League of Australia (today’s RSL) formed a home guard unit, the Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC). The unit was initially composed of veterans from the First World War , with its core responsibility to defend local areas, with members in Broo...me and Wyndham in Western Australia helping to defend their towns against enemy air attacks . In May 1941, the Government took control of the organisation and expanded it in 1942 to include men aged between 18-60. VDC membership peaked at 100,000. Due to a scarcity of resources much of the weaponry used by the VDC was improvised, including trophy guns that were souvenired during the First World War. As threats to Australia reduced, so did the VDC, with the corps officially disbanding in August 1945. Today, on #InternationalVolunteerDay we say to all those who served in the Volunteer Defence Corps, thank you for your service.