French Prime Minister pays tribute to fallen Anzacs

25 Apr 2018,

MT Times Int'l: Australia's newest museum — a tribute to the men and women of World War I — has been opened in France by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe pays homage to Australian troops at the town of Villers-Bretonneux.

So much of the background about the conception and creation of the Sir John Monash Centre has been written, there seemed little left to say or do apart from unveiling the plaque.

How unexpected, then, for French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe to deliver words so beautiful and evocative they forced a collective intake of breath.

He spoke for what seemed like just minutes, but hearts momentarily stopped and eyes welled up.

"I could not help thinking of the terrible loneliness which these thousands of young Australians must have felt as their young lives were cut short in a foreign country," Mr Philippe said.

"A foreign country. A faraway country. A cold country whose earth had neither the colour nor texture of their native bush."

He spoke in French with English subtitles on a screen behind him racing to keep up with his words.

It did not matter that the vast majority in the crowd did not speak his language.

Simply reading his speech was powerful enough to bring people to tears.

In this region where Australia and its allies are hailed as saviours, Mr Philippe began his speech with the words of a German, written by another German — in the famous war novel All Quiet on the Western Front.

"He is entirely alone now with his little life of 19 years, and cries because it leaves him," he said.

Millions from both sides of the war witnessed horrors. But it is the Australians for whom the French feel so much debt.

Mr Philippe paid tribute to the Australian soldiers who defended the French land they held inch-by-inch, "as if it were their own country".

"And it is their own country," he said.

"For many young Australians, this earth was their final safe place.

Anzac legacy not diminished in Gallipoli

A solemn crowd of Australian and New Zealand pilgrims has honoured the Anzac legacy on the rugged shores of Turkey's Gallipoli peninsula, 103 years after friend and foe stood there metres apart in bloody warfare.

It was the first major battle of World War I for Australian and New Zealand troops, who were sitting ducks landing in a hail of bullets as they attempted to take the Ottoman Empire out of the war.

The sheer magnitude of the "butcher's bill" was unprecedented, Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Patsy Reddy told the service.

"Such were the losses that during the course of the campaign the New Zealand units engaged here had to be reinforced by more than 100 per cent of their original strength," she said.

"Australian units experienced a similar attrition."

A quote from former President of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, was read aloud by a Turkish Army colonel to highlight that those who died 103 years ago are now "in the soil of a friendly country" at peace.

From this unfathomable loss, Australia's national identity was forged, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said.

"It is humbling to stand among our New Zealand and Turkish friends and reflect on the service and sacrifice of the tens of thousands of people on both sides of the campaign who lost their lives," he said.

"A legacy of resilience, determination, facing decisions and sights we would never wish upon anyone.

"They are at the core of our people and our purpose. And for this, we will be eternally grateful. Lest we forget."

Sydney remembers the fallen ... and Wally

As thousands gathered in Sydney on Anzac Day to remember Australia's fallen soldiers they also acknowledged Wally Scott-Smith who has looked after the city's cenotaph for almost 80 years.

The 96-year-old on Wednesday attended the dawn service for the last time in his official capacity as guardian of the Martin Place Cenotaph - a volunteer role he's held for 78 years.

Countless children were among the thousands who watched the sunrise at Martin Place on Wednesday to commemorate 103 years since troops landed on the Gallipoli peninsula.