Victory in the Pacific Mess Dinner at HMAS Watson

Navy 2013 Anzac Day Address ‐ Tasmania
DTG 25 Apr 2013
Length
871 words – about 8 minutes
Other
speakers
Audience
Themes
General public at Anzac Day services/events
Enduring legacy of ANZAC Gallipoli experience
Navy’s links with Tasmanians – mainly Northern
Tasmanians
This is a draft generic ANZAC Day address – it is based on the 2011/12
address given by CDRE Spedding and originally drafted by SPC‐A.
Rather than the references to HMAS Perth, Prisoners of War and
HMAS Yarra, it acknowledges the service of Navy people with a link to
Tasmania.

In a nation’s history, great events – whether in peace or war – live on
in our memories. We remember them, not necessarily for what they
achieved, nor for whether they were victories or defeats. Rather, we
remember them for the quality of the human endeavour; for the
extraordinary deeds by ordinary men and women, for the examples
and the legends that inspire us today.
So it is with ANZAC day.
In the dawn of April the 25 th 1915, the first wave of 1500 troops from
the Australian 3 rd
Brigade landed at the beach we now know as
ANZAC Cove – the first of almost 60,000 Australian and New Zealand
troops to participate in the Gallipoli campaign. Transported across
oceans and delivered in darkness to a land they barely knew, these
young, untested men advanced steadily onwards and upwards;
towards withering gunfire, across impossible terrain and a
determined enemy.
On this day and in the months to come, the ANZACs demonstrated
the best of Australia – they faced this terrifying ordeal with courage,
camaraderie and honour. They did not shirk their duty.

The bloody and bitterly fought campaign for possession of the
Gallipoli peninsula lasted for eight long months. The troops endured
constant danger, deprivation and the extremes of weather. Over a
quarter of million soldiers from Turkish and Allied forces were killed
or wounded. 8709 Australians were killed in action or died of wounds
or disease at Gallipoli – about one in every six personnel. 2721 New
Zealanders were killed in action or died of wounds or disease –
almost one in every three New Zealanders who participated in the
Gallipoli operation.
As terrible as these casualty numbers were, they were only a small
portion of over 130,000 Turkish and Allied sailors and soldiers who
died in the Gallipoli campaign, and the precursor to even greater
casualties the ANZACs endured on the Western Front, where the bulk
of Australia’s 61,522 war dead paid the ultimate sacrifice.
The courageous efforts of the ANZACs are echoed in the selfless
efforts of generations of defence personnel. We remember and
honour those who served, and those who died; in the air, in the
muddy trenches, and in the lonely seas and oceans. The challenges of
air operations in New Guinea might differ to those of combined arms
operations in the fields of Vietnam or the convoy escort in seas and

oceans around the world. But the characteristics of the people –
courage, mateship, service and sacrifice – these characteristics do not
change. That is why, nearly a century after the events at Gallipoli,
they can continue to inspire us.
It is also important to remember and honour the families and friends
of those who served. They supported and loved them and, for many,
their loss is enduring.
It is right that on ANZAC Day we take pride in their efforts, reflect on
their character and, most importantly, remember their sacrifice. They
were ordinary Australians, but they did extraordinary things. Our
nation was built on the foundations laid by citizens such as these.
From a Navy perspective, it is a particular honour to be here in
Tasmania. Uniquely appropriate for Anzac Day, there have been
three ships named Launceston, the first of which was transferred to
the Turkish Navy after the Second World War. Half of our submarine
fleet is named after Tasmanians, honouring their service and sacrifice
to Australia. Vice Admiral Sir John Collins, Captain of HMAS Sydney,
from Deloraine; Able Seaman Teddy Sheean in HMAS Armidale who
was from Barrington; and Captain Emile “Dishy” Dechaineaux killed in
a kamikaze attack on HMAS Australia in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in

1944 from Launceston. There are others who are not so well known,
but whose actions are strong threads in the rich tapestry of ANZAC –
such as Leading Cook Emms, also from Launceston, who died on the
deck of HMAS Kara Kara during the bombing of Darwin in 1942,
defending his ship, defending the city, defending our country. Or one
of Australia's three most highly decorated naval officers in World War
II, Kenneth Robert Hudspeth, DSC and two bars, who enlisted in
Hobart, and distinguished himself serving in X‐craft midget
submarines, involved in the attack and sinking of the German
battleship Tirpitz. So it is special to be here.
Australia’s current Navy, Army and Air Force personnel always aim to
live up to the standards of service set by the ANZACs. As we speak
there are about 3000 personnel deployed on operations around the
world, from South Sudan and Egypt, to the Middle East, through to
our region in South East Asia and the Pacific. They are conducting
operations against pirates, drug smugglers and insurgents,
conducting fishery and maritime security patrols, assisting
communities by rendering safe old ordnance and supporting border
security operations.

2013 is also a particularly significant year for the Australian Defence
Force and the Navy, as we celebrate the centenary of the arrival of
Australia’s first Fleet Unit. It saw action almost immediately at the
outbreak of the First World War, securing Australian and regional
waters and escorting our troops overseas. As a national celebration
of the arrival of the Fleet Unit, in October this year there will be the
International Fleet Review in Sydney.
The first ANZACs showed what Australians can do in the most
desperate circumstances. Those qualities have been demonstrated
again and again through out history, in operations around Australia
and around the world. The service and sacrifice for the security and
prosperity of Australia; the extraordinary deeds by ordinary
Australians; the quality of the endeavour: these are the things we
remember on Anzac Day.
Lest we forget.

Background Information for SLG Anzac Day Speeches
ACT
Canberra
There have been two ships to have carried the name of the nation’s capital in the RAN
fleet. The first was a County class heavy cruiser – sunk on 9 August 1942 at the Battle
of Savo Island. The second was the Adelaide class guided missile frigate HMAS
Canberra. Canberra also lends its name to the lead ship of the new LHDs scheduled
to enter service in the next few years.
The ACT can also claim to be the birth place of the Women’s Royal Australian Naval
Service which was established at Harman receiving station in 1941. Countless
Canberran’s have served in the RAN and a large number of ADF personnel continue
to serve in the Nations Capital in a variety of strategic rolls.
Ship histories for the two ships named Canberra can be found on the SPC-A web site:
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Canberra_(I)
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Canberra_(II)
TASMANIA
Tasmanians have proudly served in the RAN since its inception. Many have made the
supreme sacrifice in times of conflict.
Launceston
Three RAN ships have carried the name HMAS Launceston. The first of them was a
Bathurst class corvette, the second a Fremantle class patrol boat and the third, which
is currently in commission is an Armidale Class patrol boat.
Information on ships named HMAS Launceston can be found on the SPC-A web site:
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Launceston_(I)
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Launceston_(II)
Hobart
Two RAN ships have carried the name HMAS Hobart. The first of them was a
modified Leander class cruiser while the second was a Charles F Adams class guided
missile destroyer. Detailed ship histories for those ships can be found on the SPC-A
web site:
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Hobart_(I)

http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Hobart_(II)
VICTORIA
Since colonial times Victoria has played an important role in Australia’s maritime
defence. Victoria had the largest of the colonial navies and tens of thousands of
Victorians have served, and continue to serve in the RAN.
Melbourne
Three RAN ships have carried the name HMAS Melbourne. The first of them was a
light cruiser, the second a Majestic class aircraft carrier and the third, which is
currently in commission is an Oliver Hazard Perry Class guided missile frigate.
Melbourne has close links to the RAN and Victoria is considered the cradle of the
RAN. It is home to the RAN’s premier training establishment and for many years
HMAS Lonsdale, located at Port Melbourne, was home to men and women of the
Naval Reserve
Information on ships named HMAS Melbourne can be found on the SPC-A web site:
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Melbourne_(I)
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Melbourne_(II)
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Melbourne
Albury
Although no RAN ship has carried the name HMAS Albury, countless men and
women from the Albury – Wadonga region have proudly served in the RAN.
Geelong
Geelong has enjoyed a long association with the RAN since colonial times. It was
home to the first RAN college and for many years supported ships and submarines
based in Victoria. Two RAN ships have proudly carried the name Geelong. The first
of these was a Bathurst class corvette while the second was a Fremantle class patrol
boat.
Close to Geelong is Swan Island where the RAN, for many years, maintained a mine
depot.
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Geelong_(I)
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Geelong_(II)
NEW SOUTH WALES

Thousands of New South Wales citizens have served, and continue to serve in the
RAN, many making the supreme sacrifice during times of conflict.
Sydney
The name Sydney is arguably the most famous in the annals of the RAN. Four ships
have carried the name Sydney and collectively, to date, they have earned the most
campaign and battle honours for service stretching from World War 1 to recent
operations in the MEAO. Information concerning the histories of these ships may be
found on the SPC-A web site on the following links:
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Sydney_(I)
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Sydney_(II)
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Sydney_(III)
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Sydney
Broken Hill
Although no RAN ship has carried the name Broken Hill, many men and women from
Broken Hill and the surrounding region have proudly served in the RAN during peace
and war.
Broken Hill itself was founded in 1883 by a boundary rider called Charles Rasp who
patrolled the Mount Gipps fences. In 1883 he discovered what he thought was tin but
when the samples came back they were instead silver and lead and the ore body they
came from became the largest and richest of its kind in the world. The Broken Hill
Proprietary Company (BHP) (later BHP Billiton) was founded by the Syndicate of
Seven to mine the ore body of Broken Hill in 1885. However, by 1915, BHP realised
its ore reserves were limited and began to diversify into steel production and on 28
February 1939 mining at the BHP mines at Broken Hill had ceased.
Many ships of the RAN have carried the hallmark of BHP in the steel from which
they were made providing a unique link to the Navy that protects Australia’s maritime
and resource interests.
Batemans Bay
There is a strong ex-service community who live on the south coast of NSW.
Batemans Bay routinely hosts the major ANZAC Day service for this coastal region
in the memorial park adjacent to the Bateman's Bay Soldiers Club. The services are
well patronised with a strong ex-naval presence.
Bathurst
This city lent its name to a class of ships that served the RAN well in all theatres
during World War II. Several of the Bathurst class corvettes were sunk during the
war, notably HMAS Armidale in which Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean lost his life.
The Bathurst class became known as 'maids of all work' and were employed in antisubmarine,
escort and mine-sweeping duties. The feats of those vessels are etched in

the annals of the RAN. Information concerning ships named Bathurst can be found on
the SPC-A web site:
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Bathurst_(I)
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Bathurst
Dubbo
Two RAN ships have carried the name Dubbo. The first was a Bathurst class corvette
while the second was a Fremantle class patrol boat. Both ships provided valuable
service to the RAN and young men and women from Dubbo can be found serving in a
variety of RAN ships.
Information concerning ships named Dubbo can be found on the SPC-A web site:
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Dubbo_(I)
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Dubbo_(II)
Wollongong
Three RAN ships have carried the name Wollongong. The first was a Bathurst class
corvette, the second a Fremantle class patrol boat and the third an Armidale class
patrol boat. Much of the steel produced at Wollongong's Port Kembla steel works has
been used to build RAN ships and Wollongong is also home to the RAN
Hydrographic Office. The RAN enjoys a strong association with this city.
Information concerning ships named Wollongong can be found on the SPC-A web
site:
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Wollongong_(I)
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Wollongong_(II)
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Wollongong
Parkes
Parkes is another regional town that had a Bathurst class corvette named for it. As
with other regional towns and cities, its citizens have been among those who have
swelled the ranks of the RAN over many years.
Information concerning HMAS Parkes can be found on the SPC-A web site:
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Parkes_(I)
Lithgow
Lithgow is often remembered for its production of the famous Lee Enfield .303 rifle
during World Wars I & II. Many of those rifles were put to good use by men of the
RAN in both conflicts, notably when RAN shore landing parties captured the

Bitapaka wireless station at Rabaul in 1914. As with other regional towns a Bathurst
class corvette was also named for this city. http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Lithgow
Newcastle
Only one ship has been named for this major city and that is the current guided
missile frigate HMAS Newcastle. Newcastle has seen active service in East Timor and
also the Middle East. Newcastle City has strong links to the RAN through its steel
production and ship construction facilities. HMAS Tobruk (II) was laid down and
launched in Newcastle, commissioning in 1981. She continues to serve the RAN,
having taken part in numerous active service operations in the southern hemisphere.
Newcastle was also home to the shore establishment HMAS Maitland during World
War II.
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Newcastle
Cessnock
Two RAN ships have carried the name Cessnock. The first of these was a Bathurst
class corvette while the second was a Fremantle class patrol boat. The citizens of
Cessnock have enjoyed a close association with these two ships and when Cessnock II
decommissioned they placed a bid for her 40/60 gun mount so that it could be
mounted in the city's park. They were successful and the mount was dedicated in
2005. http://monumentaustralia.org.au/monument_display.php?id=95336&image=0
Information concerning HMAS Cessnock can be found on the SPC-A web site
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Cessnock_(I)
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Cessnock_(II)
Queanbeyan
Although this town has never had a ship named for it, it has been home to many RAN
personnel and its businesses have supported the RAN, and in particular HMAS
Harman since it commissioned in 1943.
Crookwell
Although no RAN ship has carried the name Crookwell, many men and women from
the Crookwell and surrounding region have proudly served in the RAN during peace
and war.
Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie is a coastal city that has close links with the RAN through the former
River class frigate HMAS Macquarie. As with other regional towns and cities, its
citizens have been among those who have swelled the ranks of the RAN over many
years.

Information concerning HMAS Macquarie can be found on the SPC-A web site
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Macquarie
Holbrook
Although no RAN ship has carried the name Holbrook, men and women from
Holbrook and the surrounding region have proudly served in the RAN during peace
and war. Holbrook is the adopted town of the RAN Submarine Squadron. The town
itself is named in honour of Lieutenant N.D. Holbrook of the Royal Navy who was
the first submariner to receive the Victoria Cross, for valour, during World War I.
Holbrook is the home to the casing of the decommissioned RAN submarine HMAS
Otway and a 1/5 scale model of the British submarine HMS B11 in which Lieutenant
Holbrook served
Information concerning the exploits of Lieutenant Holbrook, VC, can be found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Douglas_Holbrook
Cooma
Although no RAN ship has carried the name Cooma, men and women from Cooma
and the surrounding Snowy Mountains region have proudly served in the RAN during
peace and war.
Cowra
Cowra is often remembered for the enemy prisoner of war breakout from the prison
camp that was situated there during World War II. The city also takes much pride in
the fact that a World War II Bathurst class corvette was named for it.
That pride is reflected in a memorial to that ship located at the front of the Cowra
RSL club.
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Cowra
QUEENSLAND
Mackay
Although no RAN ships have been named Mackay, that city has been a staunch
supporter of the RAN for many years. It has remained a popular port of call for RAN
ships, and its citizens, which includes a large ex-naval community, have always made
the RAN welcome. Mackay has an active Australian Naval Cadet unit which routinely
represents the RAN on ceremonial occasions.
Toowoomba
Two RAN ships have carried the name Toowoomba. The first of these was a Bathurst
class corvette while the second is an Anzac class frigate.

Information concerning the service of HMAS Toowoomba can be found on the SPC-
A web site:
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Toowoomba_(I)
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Toowoomba
Rockhampton
Rockhampton is another regional town that had a Bathurst class corvette named for it.
As with other regional towns and cities, its citizens have been among those who have
swelled the ranks of the RAN over many years.
Information concerning the service of HMAS Rockhampton can be found on the SPC-
A web site:
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Rockhampton
Emerald
Although no RAN ship has carried the name Emerald, men and women from the
Emerald region have proudly served in the RAN during peace and war.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Throughout the RAN’s proud history thousands of Western Australian’s have served
in HMA Ships. Many made the supreme sacrifice in ships such as HMAS Sydney (II)
and HMAS Perth (1) which were sunk during World War II.
Albany
Albany's support of the RAN over many years was recognised when one of the
current Armidale class patrol boats was named for that city.
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Albany
Albany has featured strongly in the annals of the RAN and is remembered as the port
from which the first, and subsequent, ANZAC convoys assembled in 1914. Albany is
also recognised as the being the place at which the first dawn service was conducted.
The 4.5 inch gun turret from the River class destroyer escort HMAS Swan (II) was
gifted to Albany in 1996 reinforcing that city’s links with the RAN. See link:
http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/ArchivedStatements/Pages/CourtCoalitionGo
vernmentSearch.aspx?ItemId=140665&minister=Moore&admin=Court&page=10
Geraldton
Two RAN ships have carried the name HMAS Geraldton. The first of these was a
Bathurst class corvette while the second was a Fremantle class patrol boat.

Geraldton has very strong bonds with the RAN through its connection with HMAS
Sydney (II). The city of Geraldton is home to the HMAS Sydney (II) memorial on Mt
Scott which has become the mustering point for commemorative services for that
ship.
Further information can be found on the following SPC-A web links:
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Geraldton_(I)
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Geraldton
http://hmassydneymemorial.com.au/
Fremantle
Two RAN ships have carried the name HMAS Fremantle. The first of these was a
Bathurst class corvette while the second was a Fremantle class patrol boat.
Fremantle has enjoyed a long and close association with the RAN. During World War
II it was the home port of numerous RAN warships and auxiliaries as well as a large
US submarine base and a component of the RAN Fairmile motor launch fleet.
HMAS Leeuwin, situated in Fremantle in various locations, was home to the RAN's
reserve forces for many years and was also the premier training establishment for
Junior Recruit entries in the RAN between January 1960 and December 1984.
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Fremantle_(I)
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Fremantle_(II)
http://www.navy.gov.au/Publication:Papers_in_Australian_Maritime_Affairs_No._29
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Whyalla
Two RAN ships have carried the name HMAS Whyalla. The first of these was a
Bathurst class corvette while the second was a Fremantle class patrol boat.
HMAS Whyalla (I) is preserved as a museum ship in Whyalla and Whyalla is also
home to an active Australian Naval Cadet unit, TS Whyalla.
http://www.whyallanewsonline.com.au/news/local/news/general/seventy-years-ofhmas-whyalla/2418040.aspx
Adelaide
There have been two ships that have carried the name of South Australia’s capital city
in the RAN fleet. The first was a modified Town class light cruiser while the second

was the lead ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigates built for
Australia. A third ship to carry the name Adelaide will be the second of two Canberra
class LHDs scheduled to enter service during the next five years.
Further information can be found on the following SPC-A web links:
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Adelaide_(I)
http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Adelaide_(II)
Renmark
Although no RAN ship has carried the name Renmark, men and women from
Renmark and the surrounding region have proudly served in the RAN during peace
and war.
OTHERS
ADFA – See entries for Canberra and Queanbeyan
Sydney – Seen entries for HMAS Sydney
Blackheath/Mt Victoria
Although no RAN ships have carried the name Blackheath or Mt Victoria, men and
women from those regions have proudly served in the RAN during peace and war.
The recently de-commissioned HMAS KANIMBLA (II) had a close association with
the Blackheath Primary School due to its location close to the Kanimbla Valley in the
Blue Mountains.

Previous ANZAC Day speeches
2012 ANZAC Day Speech – Naval Aspects
In the silence before dawn on 25 April 1915, hundreds of soldiers from
Australia and New Zealand stormed the beaches at what later became known
as Anzac Cove. Despite thick scrub and heavy waterlogged uniforms, these
young, untested men advanced steadily onwards and upwards; towards
withering gunfire, impossible terrain and a determined enemy who occupied
all the high ground.
They faced this terrifying ordeal with courage, camaraderie and honour. They
did not shirk their duty.
Sixteen thousand Anzac troops landed on the first day and more than 2000
became casualties. The bloody and bitterly fought campaign for possession of
the Gallipoli peninsula would eventually extend for eight long months. It
would require the troops to endure constant deprivation and bear up to the
opposite extremes of summer heat and winter cold. It would result in more
than 400,000 killed and wounded among the Turkish and Allied forces.
Twenty-six thousand of these casualties were Australian.
The tenacious efforts of the Anzacs are echoed in the selfless exertions
Australian defence personnel have continued to make in the service of their
nation. It is only right that on Anzac Day we take pride in their efforts, reflect
on their values and, most importantly, remember their sacrifice. They were all
ordinary Australians, but they did extraordinary things. Our nation was built
on the foundations laid by citizens such as these.
Yet if we are to truly honour their memory, then we should also understand
something more of how the original Anzacs came to be at Gallipoli. More
particularly, we should appreciate how the Australian armed services worked
together then, and how they still work together to preserve and protect our
nation’s interests.
It is widely known that naval activities provided the foundation for the wider
Gallipoli campaign. A failed attempt to force the Dardanelles with sea power
resulted in the desire to first secure the Gallipoli peninsula through an
amphibious assault.
Less well recognised is that more general maritime operations in the South
Pacific set up the conditions that allowed Australia to contribute to the global
conflict in the first place.
In August 1914, it was the RAN’s flagship, the battle cruiser HMAS
Australia, which deterred a German cruiser squadron from preying on
Australian shipping or holding our cities to ransom. Her mere existence forced
the German ships to flee across the Pacific to their eventual destruction.

A month later, it was the entire RAN fleet which escorted and supported the
joint Navy and Army expeditionary force that took possession of Germany’s
New Guinea territories. The successful amphibious campaign marked
Australia’s baptism of fire in the Great War. It was in New Guinea that the
first Australian to fall, Able Seaman Bill Williams, received his fatal wound,
and here also that the submarine HMAS AE1 disappeared with all hands.
In November 1914, it was the Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney’s moment
when she destroyed the German cruiser SMS Emden. Sydney had been
escorting the first Anzac troop convoy from Albany, and her triumph over an
elusive foe removed the last enemy threat to the free passage of Australian
men and materiel. No Australian soldier was ever lost to enemy action on his
way to the Middle East.
Other Australian warships played equally important roles in establishing the
Navy’s wartime traditions, notably the submarine HMAS AE2 at Gallipoli.
She was the first Allied warship to succeed in a mission that many considered
impossible – to penetrate the treacherous currents, minefields and heavy
fortifications of the Dardanelles and reach the Sea of Marmara.
News of AE2’s success was received by the British Commander-in-Chief on
the evening of 25 April 1915, just as deliberations concerning a general
evacuation were underway. The news provided a tremendous boost to morale
to the joint force, just when it was most needed.
More than this, however, AE2’s achievement was to show that the feat was
possible. Although she was lost soon after, and her crew taken prisoner, within
a month other Allied submarines had followed her, and severely disrupted
Turkish sea communications to and from Gallipoli.
The combined Allied navies had transported the Anzacs safely to Gallipoli,
but this was not the end of their role. During the landing and after, battleships
smothered enemy troops and batteries with big gun salvoes, preventing the
Turks from pushing the invaders back into the sea. Smaller ships were also
active, cruisers closing the beach to provide rapid direct fire on enemy
positions, and destroyers stationed on each flank using their searchlights at
night to prevent a surprise attack.
Once the Anzacs had settled down to survive the appalling conditions, it was
the Navy that continued to sustain them ashore. Everything required by the
expedition came and went by sea; the men, mules, guns and ammunition, the
wire and timber supports for the construction of fortifications and trenches,
and of course the water and provisions.
The mere presence of the whole range of naval support vessels was of
immense reassurance, not only because they kept the troops going, but also
because control of sea meant that no matter how bad things got ashore, the
Anzacs could never be cut off. It should never be forgotten that the final

evacuation by naval forces is often described as the most successful aspect of
the entire operation.
What might have happened, is best illustrated by the fall of Singapore in 1942,
when more than 15,000 Australian troops marched into Japanese captivity.
Also worthy of recall, is the fact that it was an Australian naval engineering
unit, the 1 st RAN Bridging Train, who were the last Australians to leave
Gallipoli. Not for the last time in our military history would naval personnel
be the first in and the last out of an operation.
I am proud to be an Australian sailor. I am proud of the Navy’s contribution to
the Anzac legend. I am honoured to carry on the legacy of those who fought
and died on the far oceans of the world in defence of our freedom.
As we pause here in solemn commemoration, all servicemen and women, past
and present, should hold their heads high, knowing that they are part of one of
our nation’s greatest and most important institutions.
The men and women of today’s Australian Defence Force will always draw on
the tradition of service and sacrifice that the Anzacs exemplified. On land, on
sea and in the air, they continue to build on their values and strengthen the
foundation established so many years ago.
We will remember all of them.
Further Reading:
Semaphore Issue 7, August 2003 – ‘Before Gallipoli – Australian Operations in 1914’
http://www.navy.gov.au/Publication:Semaphore_-_Issue_7,_August_2003
Semaphore Issue 10, September 2004 – ’90 Years On: Rabaul and Sydney/Emden,
1914’
http://www.navy.gov.au/Publication:Semaphore_-_Issue_10,_2004
Semaphore Issue 4, March 2005 – ‘Gallipoli as a Joint Maritime Campaign’
http://www.navy.gov.au/Publication:Semaphore_-_Issue_4,_2005
Semaphore Issue 5, April 2008 – ‘Australian Sea Transport 1914’
http://www.navy.gov.au/Publication:Semaphore_-_Issue_5,_April_200
Semaphore Issue 16, November 2009 – ‘November 1914 – Australia’s First Victory at
Sea’
www.navy.gov.au/Semaphore_Issue_16,_November_2009

COMMODORE M.J. NOONAN, RAN
ANZAC DAY SPEECH, SOUTHPORT RSL SUB-BRANCH
MONDAY 25 APRIL 2011
President of the Southport RSL Sub-Branch, Mr Selwyn Hannant, distinguished
guests, Veterans and Serving members of the Australian Defence Force, and the New
Zealand Defence Force, ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys - thank you for the
opportunity to be here with you this morning to commemorate this, 96 th anniversary
of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during
the Gallipoli landings of the First World War.
We gather on this day every year, to honour the heroism, tenacity, and resilience of
that group of young Australian and New Zealand men who landed on the Gallipoli
Peninsula on the 25 th of April 1915. Upon joining British and French forces, they
fought in a campaign designed to relieve pressure on our ally, Russia, by opening up
permanent and safe sea lines of communication with eastern Europe, and bringing the
Balkans on the Allied side of the conflict. Through this action, it was hoped that the
duration of the war would be shortened considerably. But the overwhelming strength,
and bravery, of the Turks defending their home soil prevented the success of the allied
forces. But, even though it was a defeat, the actions of those young men at Gallipoli
forged the legend of the Anzacs, and an important part of our national identity was
born.
The way in which our Anzacs bore the brunt of the fight in the Dardanelles stirred in
all Australians a new feeling of camaraderie, a feeling that matched the way in which
the rest of the world suddenly began to look at Australia - not just as an offshoot of
Britain, but as an independent nation with a very independent character. And this
view of ourselves, and the world’s view of us, continues today, thanks to that spirit
forged in the fires and trenches of Gallipoli. We must not ever forget, though, what
that spirit demanded; or the lives those men gave in the name of our nationhood.
In the First World War, Australia sent over 330,000 men to fight – 40% of our
nation’s male population – all were volunteers. By the end of the war, nearly 60,000
of them had been killed and another 165,000 had been wounded. This was the highest
casualty rate suffered by any nation that took part in the war. Our New Zealand
brothers lost 17,000 young men, and a further 41, 000 were wounded.
The importance of Anzac Day for Australia has steadily evolved from the shores of
Gallipoli, and is now a special day when we reflect on the contribution made by all of
our past and present service men and women who have displayed great courage,
discipline and self-sacrifice in choosing a life of service to this country. We remember
those who served in the Australia and New Zealand Defence Forces in all wars,
conflicts, peacekeeping, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance missions from the
Boer war in South Africa, the two World Wars, the Korean and Vietnam wars, service
with the United Nations forces around the world, and to our current day soldiers
deployed in the Middle East, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, and in many other
parts of the world.
As we join together this morning, there are more than 3,500 men and women of the
Australian Defence Force currently deployed on 14 different operations around the

world, and the New Zealand Defence Force has over 400 people deployed on
operations – they are all continuing the Anzac Spirit while serving our countries
national interests at home and internationally. Military women and men of Australia
and New Zealand are undertaking extra-ordinary tasks every day, including but not
limited to, the teaching and mentoring of Afghan military and police forces, building
roads, bridges, wells and public buildings, and contributing to the peace and security
of the global community. Between Australia and New Zealand, we continue to
maintain nearly 600 troops in East Timor and Solomon Islands as these two nations
continue their journey to becoming fully independent, safe and stable countries - we
are committed to helping them maintain peace so that their people can be safe and
vote in democratic elections without fear.
In addition to our commitment to security and stability operations, the last 12 months
has again seen the Australian Defence Force respond at short notice to a number of
regional and domestic humanitarian assistance and disaster response situations. We
have sent engineers and medical staff to help people in Pakistan and Indonesia,
affected by floods, tsunamis and earthquakes. And more recently, we have assisted
our friends and neighbours in New Zealand and Japan following the devastation
caused by earthquakes and tsunamis. We have also been very busy domestically
during the last 12 months, with ADF people making significant contributions in
response to the floods in Victoria and Queensland, and severe tropical cyclones in
northern Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. In fact, during
the Queensland flood disaster we had nearly 4,000 ADF personnel deployed in
support of immediate response and clean up operations – some of whom were
personally affected by the devastating floods.
As you can readily see, our service men and women are continuing the Anzac
tradition with the exceptional work they do in contributing to the international
coalition against terrorism in Afghanistan, the various UN missions throughout the
world, and assisting and enhancing security and stability in our immediate region,
including the often hazardous border protection duties in Australia’s maritime
domain.
The Anzac spirit lives on in the hearts and minds of all Australians as we
acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of those who have contributed so much in
shaping the identity of this proud nation. Sadly, since Anzac Day last year, 13
Australia serviceman and two New Zealand serviceman have lost their lives on
operations, and a further 52 Anzac serviceman have been wounded during operations
– this is the highest number of combat casualties we have sustained in one year since
the Vietnam war. Today we especially remember the contribution and sacrifice made
by:
Australian Sappers Jacob Moerland, Darren Smith, Jamie Larcombe, Privates Scott
Palmer, Timothy Aplin, Benjamin Chuck, Nathan Bewes, Grant Kirby, Tomas Dale,
Trooper Jason Brown, Corporal Richard Atkinson, and Lance Corporal Jared
MacKinney – and New Zealand soldiers Lieutenant Timothy O’Donnell and Private
Kirifi Mila during operations in Afghanistan; and Able Seaman Jay Wilkie in support
of Australian border security operations.

We should also not forget that Anzac Day is a time to acknowledge the vital role of
all those who have served, and continue to serve on the home front. Without the
support, commitment and confidence of our wives, husbands and children, mums and
dads, sisters and brothers, it would simply not be possible for Australian service men
and women to do the work they do.
We all know how easily our nation can be drawn into supporting action in times of
regional or global conflict, and how quickly this situation can arise – recent global
unrest serves as a daily reminder to us as to how fortunate we are to live in a country
that is free of oppression and violent conflict. We treasure our freedom; our civil
liberties; our free speech; our very lives.
In fact, each and every one of us need that spirit of Anzac, and today we are here to
ensure we never let it die. The spirit of Anzac defines what it means to be an
Australian, and what is meant by the term “mateship” – for if there was one
outstanding characteristic of the Anzacs, it was, and is, their personal commitment to
their mates. Today, we commemorate the spirit of Anzac – a time to reflect on the
past and present generations of Australians who in hardship, have displayed courage,
discipline, self-sacrifice, resourcefulness, humour and friendship. It is this Anzac
spirit that exists in each of us. Lest we forget.

ANZAC Day Speech 2012 – CDRE Philip Spedding RAN
The Mayor of Upper Lachlan Shire Council, Mr John Shaw, President of the
Crookwell RSL Sub-Branch, Mr Walter Druit, Deputy President Mr Kevin King,
distinguished guests, Veterans, Serving members of the Defence Force, ladies and
gentlemen, girls and boys - thank you for the opportunity to be here with you this
morning to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings in the
First World War.
Time dims the memory of ordinary events, but not great events. In a nation’s
history, great events – whether in peace or war – live in our memories regardless
of time. They are deemed great not necessarily for what they achieved, nor for
whether they were victories or successes. Rather, great events are distinguished by
the quality of the human endeavour they called upon, by the examples they create
for ordinary men and women, and by the legends they inspire.
So it is with ANZAC day.
In the silence before dawn on 25 th of April 1915, hundreds of soldiers from
Australia and New Zealand stormed the beaches at what later became known as
ANZAC Cove. Despite thick scrub and heavy waterlogged uniforms, these young,
untested men advanced steadily onwards and upwards; towards withering gunfire,
impossible terrain and a determined enemy who occupied all the high ground.
They faced this terrifying ordeal with courage, camaraderie and honour. They did
not shirk their duty.
The landing followed a protracted maritime campaign where the navies of Britain
and France had tried unsuccessfully to force passage through the heavily defended
Dardenelles Strait. The aim had been to reach and bombard the Turkish capital
Constantinople (now known as Istanbul), thus compelling Turkey’s surrender.
Failure led to plans to secure the overlooking Gallipoli peninsula through
amphibious assault, and thus to the British and French landings at Cape Helles,
and the subsequent ANZAC landings.
Sixteen thousand ANZAC troops landed on the first day and more than 2000
became casualties. The bloody and bitterly fought campaign for possession of the
Gallipoli peninsula would eventually extend for eight long months. It would
require the troops to endure constant deprivation and bear up to the opposite
extremes of summer heat and winter cold. More than 400,000 Turkish and Allied
forces were killed and wounded. Of the twenty-six thousand Australians
casualties, nearly 9000 men were killed, and of the 7500 New Zealand casualties,
nearly 3000 were killed.
The tenacious efforts of the ANZACs are echoed in the selfless exertions
generations of defence personnel have continued to make in the service of their
nation. It is right that on ANZAC Day we take pride in their efforts, reflect on
their values and, most importantly, remember their sacrifice. They were ordinary
Australians, but they did extraordinary things. Our nation was built on the
foundations laid by citizens such as these.

Yet if we are to truly honour their memory, then we should also understand
something more of how the original ANZACs came to be at Gallipoli. More
particularly, we should appreciate how the Australian armed services worked
together then, and how they still work together to preserve and protect our
nation’s interests.
The naval campaign that immediately preceded the Gallipoli landings is relatively
well known. However, less well recognised is the fact that more general maritime
operations in the South Pacific set up the conditions that allowed Australia to
contribute to the global conflict in the first place.
At the outbreak of the war, it was the presence of the RAN’s flagship, the battle
cruiser HMAS Australia, which deterred an Asian based German cruiser squadron
from preying on Australian shipping or holding our cities to ransom. The mere
existence of this powerful fleet unit helped to eventually drive the German ships
from the region.
In September 1914, the entire RAN fleet escorted and supported a joint Navy and
Army expeditionary force that took possession of Germany’s New Guinea
territories. This successful amphibious campaign actually marked Australia’s
baptism of fire in the Great War. It was in New Guinea that the first Australian to
fall, Able Seaman Bill Williams, received his fatal wound, and here also that the
submarine AE1 disappeared with all hands.
Many Australian’s will have heard of the sinking of the German cruiser SMS
Emden by HMAS Sydney in November 1914, but few will necessarily link that
event to the Gallipoli landings. But Sydney, along with HMAS Melbourne, a
British cruiser and a Japanese battle cruiser, had been escorting the first ANZAC
troop convoy of 38 transport ships from Albany , when reports were received of a
‘strange warship’ near the Cocos Islands. The convoy escort commander in
HMAS Melbourne elected to remain with his convoy and the 30,000 embarked
troops under his care, and detached Sydney to investigate.
Sydney’s triumph over an elusive foe that had previously sunk 25 allied merchant
ships, a Russian cruiser and a French destroyer, removed the last enemy threat to
the free passage of Australian men and materiel to the Middle East and Europe.
Through the exercise of sea control, no Australian soldier was ever lost to enemy
action on passage from Australia.
One other Australian warship played a key role in the Gallipoli campaign, the
submarine AE2. Having been towed to the Middle East by a ship of the second
ANZAC convoy, she was ordered to attempt passage through the Dardenelles on
the 25 th of April 1915. She commenced this perilous feat just after 2:30 in the
morning, and whilst the ANZACs were struggling to gain a foothold ashore, AE2
became the first Allied warship to succeed in penetrating the Strait and reaching
the Sea of Marmara.
News of AE2’s success was received by the British Commander-in-Chief on the
evening of 25 April 1915, just as deliberations concerning a general evacuation

from the peninsular were underway. The news provided a tremendous boost to
morale to the joint force, just when it was needed most.
More than this, however, AE2’s achievement was to show that the feat was
possible. Although she was lost soon after, and her crew taken prisoner, within a
month other Allied submarines had followed her, and they severely disrupted
Turkish sea communications to and from Gallipoli. By July, all Turkish resupply
to their forces at had to be conducted overland; by donkey, camel and ox cart.
The combined Allied navies transported the ANZACs to Gallipoli, but this was
not the end of their role. During the landing and after, battleships covered enemy
troops and batteries with their guns, preventing the Turks from pushing the
invaders back into the sea. Smaller ships were also active: cruisers closing the
beach to provide rapid direct fire on enemy positions, and destroyers stationed on
each flank using their searchlights at night to prevent a surprise attack.
Once the ANZACs had settled down to survive the appalling conditions, it was
naval forces that continued to sustain them ashore. Everything required by the
expedition came and went by sea; the men, mules, guns and ammunition, the wire
and timber supports for the construction of fortifications and trenches, and of
course water and provisions.
The mere presence of the whole range of naval support vessels was of immense
reassurance, not only because they kept the troops going, but also because control
of the sea meant that no matter how bad things got ashore, the ANZACs could
never be cut off. Indeed, the final evacuation by naval forces is often described as
the most successful aspect of the entire operation.
My discussion on Gallipoli and ANZAC has had a deliberate naval focus. The
reality is that the vast majority of Australians who have fought for our nation have
been solders, and it is therefore natural that their story and their names should be
most easily brought to mind. However the service of those in the Air Force and
the Navy also needs to be remembered. I am proud to be an Australian sailor. I am
proud of the Navy’s contribution to the ANZAC legend, and I am honoured to
carry on the legacy of those who have fought and died on the oceans of the world
in defence of our freedom.
All round Australia today, millions of people will gather in services such as this
one, to honour great men and women and a great tradition. We gather as always,
not to glorify war, but to remind ourselves that we value who we are and the
freedoms we possess, and to acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of those who
contributed so much to shaping the identify of our nation, and those that continue
to serve.
We remember those who have served in the Australian Defence Forces in all wars,
conflicts, peacekeeping, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance missions from
the Boer war in South Africa, the two World Wars, the Korean and Vietnam wars,
Malaya, Borneo, service with United Nations forces around the world, and to our
current day serviceman deployed in the Middle East, East Timor, the Solomon
Islands, and in many other parts of the world.

As we join together this morning, more than 3,300 men and women remain
deployed on 11 different operations. The men and women of today’s Australian
Defence Force will always draw on the tradition of service and sacrifice that the
ANZACs exemplified. On land, on sea and in the air, they continue to build on
their values, and to strengthen the foundation established so many years ago.
ANZAC Day is also a time to acknowledge the vital role of all those who have
served, and continue to serve on the home front. Without the support, commitment
and confidence of wives, husbands and children, mums and dads, sisters and
brothers, it would simply not be possible for Australian service men and women to
do the work they do.
Lest we forget.