CANBERRA,
November 11
Indian Abroad Newsdesk
Australians across the country gathered at memorials, cenotaphs and public spaces on November 11 to commemorate the 108th anniversary of the Armistice that ended the First World War, paying tribute to those who lost their lives in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), in a report by journalist Annabel Whitehouse, said thousands of people attended ceremonies across the country, with services observing a minute’s silence at 11am. The moment marked the time when the guns fell silent on the Western Front on November 11, 1918, bringing an end to the First World War. According to the ABC, approximately 60,000 Australians died during that conflict.
At the national ceremony in Canberra, Governor-General Sam Mostyn, Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, Defence Force Chief Admiral Mark Hammond and other political and military representatives attended the service at the Australian War Memorial. The ABC reported that the Governor-General laid a scarlet poppy wreath that had been preserved in the Memorial’s collection for 92 years.
The Australian War Memorial’s official programme confirmed that the national ceremony began at 10.45am on the Parade Ground and included a formal wreath-laying service involving members of the diplomatic corps. The Memorial also scheduled its traditional Last Post Ceremony for the afternoon, providing another opportunity for visitors to pay their respects to Australians who served and died in conflicts.
In a joint statement issued on November 11, the Department of Defence and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs said Australians were remembering more than 103,000 service personnel who had died in wars, conflicts and peace operations. The statement described Remembrance Day as an occasion to recognise not only those who lost their lives but also the continuing impact of military service on veterans and their families.
The ABC reported that Australian Army Chaplain Kelly Horne delivered the commemorative address in Canberra. Having helped train Ukrainian soldiers, she spoke about the sacrifice of those who had served and the continuing effects of war. The ceremony also included tributes to Australians who remain unidentified after more than a century, reflecting the human cost of the First World War.
Across other capital cities, the ABC reported that services were held at Sydney’s Martin Place Cenotaph, Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance, Perth’s State War Memorial in Kings Park and the Hobart Cenotaph. In Sydney, Royal Australian Navy Rear Admiral Anita Williams delivered the principal address, highlighting the need to understand the sacrifices made by earlier generations rather than treating remembrance as a routine annual observance.
In Adelaide, the ABC reported that 104-year-old Second World War veteran Reg Swanborough attended the ceremony and reflected on his wartime experience. In Perth, 101-year-old veteran Robert Bentley-Taylor joined other Western Australians at the State War Memorial. Their presence offered a direct connection between contemporary Australians and generations who experienced wartime service.
The ABC also reported that Remembrance Day was marked in Brisbane, Cleveland and Darwin, where local communities and military personnel gathered to honour those who had served. In Cleveland, residents continued with their commemorative service despite damage to a local war memorial.
The Australian War Memorial and the Department of Defence said the annual observance remains an important national occasion. Their statements emphasised that the 11am silence is intended to preserve the memory of Australians who served and to recognise the continuing responsibilities associated with peace and remembrance.
