Gallipoli 2007

The next six months looks just as promising with one and possibly two sea deployments and one deployment in support of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands. The record for gaining overseas deployment opportunities for our people during the past five years has been quite impressive: Work has commenced to inscribe on our ceremonial drums the band’s Battle Honours and names of previous members who lost their lives in action. We have purchased a number of new drums and intend to refurbish the old ones for distribution to our reserve units and to the Australian Navy Cadets. This initiative compliments the previous one to inscribe the names on our bugles. I am also working in conjunction with the Australian Army Band Corps on a Pay Case submission for our musicians that we hope to get before the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal next year, and am pleased to report that a recent proposal to create a position for an additional Chief Petty Officer in the Sydney detachment was successful. I am also pleased to report that, unlike other categories, we conclude this financial year with no vacant positions. Thank you for your contribution to ensuring that the Royal Australian Navy Band remains ‘one of Australia’s premier military ensembles’ and that its story of service to the nation continues to be told.

GALLIPOLI 2007

Article by Leading Seaman Esa Thomas

This year saw 15 members of Royal Australian Navy Band as part of the Australian Defence Force Contingent participate in the commemoration of the 92nd Anniversary of the ANZAC landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula. After a five hour bus trip from Istanbul where we had spent the first four days of our trip, our first sightseeing stop at the Gallipoli Peninsula involved a quick battlefield tour with local historian Mr Kenan Çelik. When we finally reached ANZAC Cove, we could not get off the bus quick enough to see the site of the Dawn Service and get the first glimpse from the beach up that fateful hill. The incline is so steep, and you could just see people shaking their heads thinking, “How on earth did they get up there?” We were keen to get down on the beach, and many photo snaps later we were being ushered back onto the buses to see the rest of the sites. The next stop was Lone Pine, and even with the half erected stands, wandering around the tombstones was a sobering experience. There were some beautifully written epitaphs, one I remember saying “He gave up his coat of grey for one of white.” Once again, we were rushed back onto the bus for the final stop with the guide up at Chanuk Bair Cemetery and New Zealand Memorial site. That winding road was one we got very familiar with over the next few days. The next day we actually had a free morning, but a few of us from the Contingent decided to head back over to the Gallipoli peninsula from Çanakkale where we were staying, do our own touring of the sites. We started down on the beach, and walked up the hill (along a much nicer track than what the diggers would have had) and stopped at Shell Green Cemetery site. We returned to the track to continue up to Lone Pine, where we could take a little more time to take it all in. More walking and up to The Nek, where the view was simply amazing of the country side and out to the water. By this stage, I must admit, I was getting a little tired of all the hiking, but we were with a couple of Army members, who were very keen to get up to Baby 700. “We have to get as far as they did!” was what they claimed as they powered up the last little bit, me trailing behind! It was certainly worth the effort though, and walking amongst the trenches and seeing the tunnels gave a little perspective of what the soldiers were faced with. Our main purpose for being over there began late on the afternoon of Tuesday 24 April. We loaded up our uniforms, pillows and blankets, and when we arrived, thousands of people were already staking claim to their places on the grass and in the stands. Walking past and seeing someone with vegemite on Turkish bread made me smile, and seemed kind of symbolic that our two countries can get along together in more ways than one!