Rare donation of book signed by Gallipoli veterans
On 18 February 2015, His Excellency Mr Stephen Brady AO CVO Australian Ambassador to the French Republic, donated to the Memorial a copy of Alan Moorehead’s book Gallipoli. The significance of this book is that it was signed by Gallipoli veterans on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of their return to Anzac Cove. His Excellency Mr Brady was fortunate enough to be travelling with the veterans at the time and asked them to sign a copy of the book which he promised to donate to the Australian War Memorial on the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.
Below is a statement from His Excellency Mr Stephen Brady AO CVO, Australian Ambassador to the French Republic.
It is my great pleasure to gift to the Australian War Memorial, Alan Moorehead’s book ‘Gallipoli,’ signed exactly seventy five years ago by the surviving Gallipoli veterans who travelled to Gallipoli to attend the commemorations of the 75th anniversary of the first landing on 25 April 1915.
I had the honour to travel on board the QANTAS Boeing 747 (flight code QF 1915) from Sydney to Singapore, and then on to Istanbul. The flight carried the veterans, aged between 90 and 102 years, who had been medically assessed as capable of undertaking the journey.
Each veteran was accompanied by a government provided nurse; and one doctor per several veterans.
It was the first time on an aircraft for many veterans; and all referred to Istanbul as ‘Constantinople’.
En route to Singapore, the veterans’ only request was for the captain to fly over Ayers Rock (Uluru). In clear skies, the captain obliged and dropped the aircraft to 2000 feet and circled the Rock to the delight of the veterans on board.
I spoke to each veteran during the flight for some time. There was a palpable sense of anticipation, and in their varying stages of frailty, each retained clear recollections of their landing at ANZAC Cove.
Most had lived quiet lives, and now all knew that they were about to undertake the final chapter of their lives.
En route to Istanbul, I asked each veteran to sign the book. Amongst the signatures is that of the oldest veteran, who turned 103 on ANZAC Day (and whose brother had died on landing at ANZAC Cove), and also that of the last survivor of Gallipoli, Alec Campbell.
I promised each that on the 100th anniversary, I would present to book to the Australian War Memorial.
On that ANZAC Day 1990, following the dawn service, I then had the front of the book signed by the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Bob Hawke MP, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Rt Hon Margaret Thatcher MP, the New Zealand Governor General, Sir Paul Reeves, the then New Zealand Leader of the Opposition, Jim Bolger MP, and other dignitaries.
It was a trip that represented the very best of Australia – the gratitude of a nation; and the generosity and imagination of a government that had conceived the trip; and the meticulous care by officials and carers whose responsibility it was to look after the veterans.
Today I honour my promise to the veterans in gifting the book to the safe keeping of the Australian War Memorial.
H.E. Mr Stephen Brady AO CVO.