ANZAC Day this year has been subject to much publicity in recognition of course of the 100 years passing since that fateful landing of Commonwealth troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey.  The exploits and suffering of the Australian and New Zealand contingent following their landing at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915 was legendary and has become a symbol for national commemoration for that campaign and others of subsequent military engagements in which Australia has been involved.
 
The extensive current media coverage, VIP and celebrity involvement, radio, film and television dramatisation is fine.  Still it was wonderful to hear our own Dr John Carre-Riddell's pride and feelings come through in his highly personal story of ANZAC Day 1915 as experienced by his father.
 
John's father studied mining engineering and science at Melbourne prior to the first war.  Following the declaration of war on 4 August 1914 and Australia's support for Britain, Victoria contributed 6,800 men of 20,000 assembled by December 1914 for a promised division.  Consett Carre-Riddell was one of those.  The plan for a second front eventuated and so the Gallipoli and the Anzac landing at which John's father was present.
 
We learnt of how initially injured and evacuated, Consett Carr-Riddell returned and employed his mining background to fabricate tunnels to penetrate the Turkish lines.
 
The nature of the terrain and fighting at Gallipoli is well known, but letters from John's father describing aspects of it were fascinating and poignant.  So was the observation that of six student mates at Melbourne only Consett Carr-Riddell returned from the Great War.
 
We were reminded of the disastrous Gallipoli campaign but highly successful final evacuation but mostly of the horrible statistics.  Of 80,000 Australians, 18,000 were wounded and 8,500 killed.  The British contingent was much larger with similar relative losses.  The impact of the now recognised, overall bad plan, poor preparation (one doctor for 800 patients) and generally inferior strategic and on field management was borne by all there.  The skill and tenacity of the enemy was recalled too.
 
Thank you John for the opportunity to share in your personal reflection of ANZAC Day.  It will provide a fitting backdrop for members celebration of it.
 
......................................................................................................................
 
 
To add to the occasion John and others notably David Corrigan brought along some memorabilia, medals, commendations etc, of relatives war time deeds.
 
Here we see two members, Charles Morrison and Sheridan Browne, studying the material.