Honour their spirit. The Australian War Memorial.

In juts under over month from now the free world will remember the end of World War 1. A war that claimed 40 million military and civilians lives – let alone the trauma of those who came home wounded in body and mind. Since the end of WW1 100,000 military personnel have died in various conflicts overseas.

Remembrance Day has a special significance in 2018.

Sunday, 11 November 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the Armistice which ended the First World War (1914–18).

Tomb of the Unknown soldier Australian War Memorial AWM Canberra

One hundred years ago, on 11 November 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare. With their armies retreating and close to collapse, German leaders signed an Armistice, bringing to an end the First World War. From the summer of 1918, the five divisions of the Australian Corps had been at the forefront of the allied advance to victory. Beginning with their stunning success at the battle of Hamel in July, they helped to turn the tide of the war at Amiens in August, followed by the capture of Mont St Quentin and Pèronne, and the breaching of German defences at the Hindenburg Line in September. By early October the exhausted Australians were withdrawn from battle. They had achieved a fighting reputation out of proportion to their numbers, but victory had come at a heavy cost. They suffered almost 48,000 casualties during 1918, including more than 12,000 dead.

In the four years of the war more than 330,000 Australians had served overseas, and more than 60,000 of them had died. The social effects of these losses cast a long shadow over the postwar decades.

Each year on this day Australians observe one minute’s silence at 11am, in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts.

Remembrance Day National Ceremony

10.30am – 12pm

The Remembrance Day National Ceremony includes a formal wreath laying, and Australia’s Federation Guard and the Band of the Royal Military College, Duntroon will be on parade.

For further enquiries please email: ceremony@awm.gov.au

Free tickets for the National Ceremony are available on line.

Remembrance Day breakfast

A breakfast event will be held in the Memorial’s Anzac Hall at 8am.
This sit down plated breakfast includes a presentation from Memorial Head of Military History, Ashley Ekins.

Last Post Ceremony

Each day the story of one of the fallen servicemen or women listed on the Roll of Honour is told at the Last Post Ceremony.

Traditionally on the 11th of November, the eulogy for the Unknown Australian Soldier is read. Remembrance Day 2018 will be the 25th anniversary of its first recitation by then Prime Minister the Honourable Paul Keating.