Memorial hosts international ceremony to mark 100 years since declaration of First World War

The Australian War Memorial marked the centenary of the declaration of the First World War today with a Last Post Ceremony attended by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Senator the Hon. Michael Ronaldson, and a contingent of ambassadors and high commissioners.

The Director of the Australian War Memorial, Dr Brendan Nelson, encouraged all Australians to reflect on how far the world has come since the First World War.

"This day 100 years ago was the start of four years of horror. Today we send a message of peace and unity to people in Australia and overseas as about 75 ambassadors and high commissioners, representing 48 countries, lay wreaths simultaneously at the Memorial’s Last Post Ceremony. This action embodies the world we want to live in," Dr Nelson said.

"We should all take a moment to think of the Australian experience of the First World War and to reflect on its enduring impact on our history and our future."

After the ceremony, the Memorial officially launched its Roll of Honour Name Projections project.

The names of all 62,000 Australian soldiers who died during the First World War will be projected on to the exterior of the Memorial’s Hall of Memory each night over the next four years.

The Memorial has developed an online estimator to enable the public to find out the time and date of each name projection. Families can search for a particular person on the Memorial’s website (www.awm.gov.au) by clicking on "Search for a person: Roll of Honour" and entering that person’s name. Under each individual entry can be found a list of the times at which that person’s name will appear.

The first two names to be displayed are those of Able Seaman Williams G.V. Williams and Captain Brian C.A. Pockley, who are believed to be among the first Australians killed in the First World War.

Today’s Last Post Ceremony commemorated Captain Keith Heritage, understood to be the first man to volunteer for the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force, which was raised and sent to New Guinea within days of the outbreak of war.

Two school children from each state and territory also laid wreaths to symbolise the importance of passing on the Anzac tradition to future generations. The schools involved are: Campbell High School from the ACT, Glossodia Public School from New South Wales, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School from Queensland, Kingsville Primary School from Victoria, Kormilda College in the Northern Territory, Mount Gambier High School from South Australia, Dale Christian School from Western Australia and Devonport High School from Tasmania.

This event marks the beginning of a series of commemorative programs and events to be hosted by the Memorial over the next four years. Further information about centenary commemorations can be found online at: /1914-1918/centenary-projects.