ANZAC Day Service
Monday, 25th April 2011
The Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Right Honourable John Key, and Mrs Bronagh Key, attended the annual Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving to mark ANZAC Day at Westminster Abbey on Monday 25th April 2011.
In his bidding the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, said:
The landing of allied forces at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 led to one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War. New Zealand and Australian forces joined together as ANZAC for the first time in self-offering.
We honour today the bravery and determination of the men at Gallipoli. The spirit of national pride shown by those soldiers encourages us, as we bring to mind the courageous response in New Zealand and Australia to recent natural disaster. This Easter, as we rejoice at the resurrection from the dead of our Lord Jesus Christ, we celebrate the love of God and the triumph over destruction and death of hope and life.
HE John Dauth AO LVO, High Commissioner for Australia, read Isaiah 9: 1-7. The Prime Minister of New Zealand read 2 Corinthians 4: 7-16.
HE Mr Ünal Çeviköz, the Turkish Ambassador, read the words of Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, inscribed on the memorial at ANZAC Cove in the Dardanelles.
Prayers were led by The Reverend Dr James Hawkey, Minor Canon and Sacrist of Westminster. The Address was given by the Dean.
During the service the flags of Australia, New Zealand, Turkey and the United Kingdom were carried through the church and placed in the Sacrarium.
The Prime Minister of New Zealand and the High Commissioner for Australia laid wreaths at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior.
The service was sung by the Westminster Abbey Special Service Choir conducted by James O’Donnell, Organist and Master of Choristers. The organ was played by Robert Quinney, Sub-Organist. James McVinnie, Assistant Organist, played before the service.
The Band of the Scots Guards; the Perth Modern School Wind Band, Perth Australia; the Orchestra of Linwood College, Christchurch, New Zealand also played also played. The Ngáti Ránana London Máori Group and the Perth Modern School Choir sang during the service.
It is now 96 years since the landings on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 25 April 1915. In the heroic campaign that followed, the casualties on both sides were heavy. Of the Allied forces – from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, France, Newfoundland and India – some 50,000 lost their lives. The total number of casualties, including those wounded or evacuated for sickness, was some 250,000. The Turkish forces lost over 86,000 and also sustained a higher number of wounded.
The memorial at ANZAC Cove reads:
‘Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives,See Also:
You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country.
Therefore, rest in peace.
There is no difference between the Johnnies
And the Mehmets to us here; they lie side by side
Here in this country of ours.
You, the mothers
Who sent their sons to faraway countries,
Wipe away your tears;
Your sons are now lying in our bosom, and are in peace,
After having lost their lives on this land they have
Become our sons as well.’
The Order of Service (PDF, 587 KB)
