On the Bugle in Anzac Cove

We headed up the back of the seating area to a couple of tents with a heater that we were lucky to have been provided with! 8.30pm that night saw us opening the entertainment for the night with some tunes from the WWI era. After about 20 mins, we left the stage to cheers and applause, a proud moment for us. Our next set began at 11.30pm, and if it was not for the loud sound system that had been playing all night so far, I would have tip toed down through the sleeping crowd. Obviously the noise was no problem, with thousands of people occupying every inch of grass wrapped up in blankets and sleeping bags with many fast asleep! After our final set, some of us squeezed in a few winks of sleep, and then the time had arrived. Already they were broadcasting ANZAC Dawn services and marches around Australia, and hearing Royal Australian Navy being played by the Sydney Detachment bought a cheer from us! It was getting closer to that time, and the sun was slowly peaking over the Sphinx as the service got under way. There were moving and insightful speeches from both Australian and Turkish representatives. When ABMUSN Andrew Hansch started with the Last Post, the air hung with emotion and a stillness that can only be felt and not described. The call went without a hitch and being apart of that moment makes you feel proud of being Australian. We were lucky enough to ride on the buses up to Lone Pine, and the thousands of people that streamed up the hill on foot was amazing. The Lone Pine service had warmed up quite considerably from the chilly Dawn Service, and it seemed a more intimate affair with a smaller crowd in a smaller place. We sat right next to all those who had come so far to pay homage to those who had bravely fought, so it felt we were more apart of the service than just providing musical support. After the services for the day we headed back down the hill for the last time to attend a “BBQ”. It was not the conventional steak and sausages that I know some were pining for, but it was a plethora of Turkish cuisine that bought nothing but compliments for those who had prepared it. ANZAC Day in Gallipoli is a trip that I will never forget, and feel very lucky to have been apart of. It is an experience that I can only try to explain, but can not give full justice to the feelings I had of standing on the beach, or getting goose bumps at the sight of opposing trenches not more than a single road’s width apart, or shivering on that early ANZAC Day morning. If one ever has the chance to go over, I would say it is a most worthwhile and memorable trip to embark on.

ON THE BUGLE IN ANZAC COVE

Article by Able Seaman Andrew Hansch

Instead of harping on about the whole two weeks of my Gallipoli experience, I would like to share with you my thoughts and feelings of the day before, and the day of Anzac Day 2007. April 24th, 5am. Today we would be embarking on the ferry from Çanakkale and head across the Dardanelles to the Gallipoli Peninsula. The morning was fresh and still, and what we were about to experience really started to sink in as the first cracks of sun appeared from over the mountains. You could not help but think of the diggers those 92 years prior, how they must have felt and what awaited them the next morning. We made our way south through the peninsula to the Turkish International Service at Mehmetcik Abide. The respect, honour and pride shown by all countries but especially the Turkish was really something else. My eyes were truly opened at this service and to be drawn into a plethora of emotions wasn't hard at all. The service lasted for an hour after which we made our way to the Commonwealth Memorial Service at Cape Helles. Chief Stapleton had drawn the short straw for bugle jobs here, plus there was a Bottle of thank you already organized from the British, "funny how that turned out Chief". He was a little bit nervous, and with good cause too. This was a massive memorial with plenty of hierarchy there but as always, Chief delivered the bugle call with professionalism and did both himself and us all very proud.

It was now late afternoon and it was time to head to Anzac Cove to get settled in for our performances that evening and find some sleep somewhere in between before the Dawn Service. On arrival, Anzac Cove was already showing healthy numbers of Australian and New Zealand people clad in all their pride. The grass looked like a patch-work quilt with bodies sprawled over sleeping bags and rugs. Some people were kicking a footy around, others having a yak with total strangers, but there was an overall feeling of being back home and I felt a sense of comfort and relaxed into the whole atmosphere nicely. We had two large tents at the rear of the site to kick back in and I was able to find a nice spot in the girls tent close enough to the heater where later on that evening I would throw my head down and try a grab a few hours sleep. 8pm came around and it was time for the Royal Australian Navy Band to kick off the interpretive program which would run right through the night until the Dawn service. We played songs of the era for half an hour after which we received something like a rock concert-like reception from the now 8000 strong crowd. This really was a massive buzz to us all and after a few snappy high 5s and a few low ones, we trotted back up into the tent until our next performance at half 11. I with a few others decided to grab a little sleep and had no trouble drifting off, that was until this unknown guy (his face will haunt my dreams) leapt into our tent and preceded to cut great gapping holes into the roof of our tent letting out all the precious warm air which was replaced by a stream of air that was colder than my first girlfriend’s Father’s face the day I turned up to her house to take her out on out first date, yeah that cold! The same arrangement for our entertainment went on for the 11.30pm performance and the crowd was now in excess of 10,000 people. Upon completion of our last song the crowd as one burst into a thank you I am sure none of us would ever forget. It took away the freezing sensation from us all and filled our hearts giving us all a real presence of what we were doing was truly appreciated and meant a great deal to everyone there who had travelled great distances to pay their own tribute and respects to the greatest bunch of Australians and New Zealanders. After another hour or so of sleep in our now wonderfully air conditioned tent it was time for me to get up and prepare myself for the Dawn Service. Up until now all my rehearsals for the bugle call had gone smoothly but now it was time to throw in a bitterly freezing cold wind and a truck load of nerves to boot plus some fair sleep deprivation as well. I warmed up for a good two hours, and with trusty Blistex lip ointment which was going on every 15 mins now, things were feeling really good. Unlike before when the crowd was enjoying each others company and getting into the whole ANZAC experience, you could have heard a pin drop as we made our way down the hill towards the memorial. It was extremely eerie but incredible at the same time to see such respect shown for something that took place here 92 years ago. During the service we heard some great stories of what took place that fateful day plus some really moving tributes especially from our Defence Minister the Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson M.P who gave truly one of the most articulate, knowledgeable and heart-felt speeches I have ever had the pleasure of hearing. I asked him later that day who his speech writer was and he said he writes all his own speeches, to which I said "you’re a pretty amazing bloke Sir and obviously a very passionate Australian". The Royal Australian Navy Band and a small number of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band who had joined us for the day played really beautifully, and Tracy Burke sang like an angel during the service. It was a real pleasure to sit there and listen to what was described as the old-mates band, but they rose above the less than ideal conditions and played their hearts out for our diggers. Now came my turn, I had the fortune of not playing during the service so my lips were rested and prepared. I stood up and marched out a little earlier while the wreaths were still being laid. This gave me a bit more time to look around and take in peoples’ faces, the Cove and the awesome terrain that lay in front of me.

I remember looking up at the sphinx then back down at the Australian "Fanatics" who had all locked arms around each others shoulders, some had even began to cry as the Ode was being read, and what I said in my mind was " to be proud mate of who you are and where you’re from, you’re a bloody Aussie, come on". The bugle call went very smoothly and I felt relaxed and knew I had all the time in the world. This was one of the three most memorable moments of my life to date. After the service I took a bit of time for myself to reflect upon the whole experience. Coming here with only a patchy idea of what took place leading up to, during and after the battles; I now had a fair understanding of what I had just participated in. To say I didn't shed a tear that day would be a lie and it really is a place we as Australians should make an effort to visit as it stands for everything we hold dear to our hearts. These were some of the greatest men this world would ever see; it was a defining moment in my life and has changed me forever. At 11am it was time for the Lone Pine service. The whole contingent had been really looking forward to this as it was a chance for us as Australians alone to pay our respects to the finest of our soldiers in one of the bloodiest battles that took place on the peninsula. Some 4,932 ANZAC's lost their lives over a stretch of ground no bigger than a footy field. Probably the greatest moment was the Defence Minister's speech. After remarking on his Dawn Service speech, what he delivered next will stay with me for all time, especially his closing remarks. "Our generation owes theirs a debt we can barely comprehend - let alone repay. But foremost it is too surely, "Keeping their memory". Can we not, in every workplace, school and home, hang the photograph of just one of them who gave his all - his life, for Australia? They are us and we are them. Lest We Forget". The Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP, Minister for Defence. Once again the Royal Australian Navy Band played from their hearts, and when it came to my call, my nerves were overridden by an overbearing sense of pride and all went well. I hope these few words I have written above give you some idea of really how much this trip meant to me. It was an absolute privilege going away with everyone involved and what each one of us took away from our experiences will no doubt well inside our minds and hearts till the day we die.

NAVY BAND TAKES BEIJING BY STORM

Article by Lieutenant Steve Stanke, RAN

On Friday the 9th of March, members of the Melbourne and Sydney detachments flew out of Sydney for an exciting opportunity to perform at the 2007 Australia Ball in Beijing, China. For the four days prior to departure, the ten personnel selected for the trip were extremely busy working up some 45 songs for the rock group component and other numbers for the jazz ensemble. We also put together a drum and bugle corps to perform a small floor show, which included a drum ruffle, (thanks to Seaman Chris Thompson for his patience), Advance Australia Fair, I am Australian and Waltzing Matilda. Upon our arrival into Beijing we were greeted by Captain Vaughn Rixon (the Australian Defence Force defence attaché in China) and, after a quick guided tour past a well lit Tiananmen Square, we settled into the motel. A meal at the restaurant next door was made easier by the fluent Chinese language skills of Captain Rixon who ordered our chosen meals, and a culinary disaster was avoided. Saturday morning was free time and all members had an opportunity to do some quick sightseeing around the famous areas of Beijing. Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City and other historic places beckoned and, although the weather had supplied a vigorous cold snap (minus 2 degrees with a wind chill factor of about minus 10 degrees) we were pleased with the touring and shopping opportunities. Everyone seemed to find some bartering abilities, with $15 Calvin Klein shirts top of the list. All genuine shirts of course, only the best made in China. The Australia Ball is provided by the Australia Embassy in Beijing for ex-pats and locals and to our pleasant surprise over 700 tickets were sold, guaranteeing a large audience.

The very spacious ballroom at the China World Hotel was chosen as the venue and the embassy also hired professional lighting and sound, which enabled us to concentrate solely on the music. We felt and were treated like rock stars and knew it was going to be a great night. We were not disappointed. The Jazz group entertained during the entrées and then the band marched out to do the floor show. The crowd really appreciated the little touch of Australia with the National Anthem, Waltzing Matilda and I am Australian, and a hearty sing-along accompanied all three. Then it was time to dance for the next four hours, and dance they did. The floor was packed for all 45 songs. Vocalist Leading Seaman Jason Beach recalls, “Iremember singing the final song, Khe Sahn and looking at my watch and realising it was 2.10 in the morning (Australian time).” It was a fabulous night and with many complements all evening about the quality of the entertainment. Several attaches or embassy staff from other countries asked us to return for their balls!! It was 4am when the band finally got to bed. Sunday was a day off and a chance to get out of the city to see the Great Wall of China. The closest part was about a 90 minute drive from the motel and we had a chance to drive past the new stadium where the Olympics will be held next year. Affectionately known as the “Birds Nest” the unfinished stadium seems to be an unorganised mass of steel girders. Modern architecture! The Great Wall itself is an awesome sight and we spent about two hours there, climbing between several sections. We could have spent more time there, but we were on another mission to get back into town and get some more great bargains at the markets. The trip took quite a while as the traffic is quiet horrendous and surprisingly, in a city of 18 million people, we realised, with some amazement, that we are all probably physically closer than we think to someone we know. As we were waiting for a red light to change, one of the band members pointed out a girl walking along the footpath and said that it looked like the sister of a friend of his back home. Someone shouted out her name, in the unlikely event that it was her, and to our amazement she looked around. Of course, the traffic lights changed at that precise time and we were off, leaving behind a very bewildered woman standing on a street in Beijing, having just had her name called by a busload of unseen strangers. (I made Leading Seaman Lachlan MacFie promise that he would call his friend when we got home and solve the mystery for his sister!) After we had finished shopping and bewildering tourists, we made our way, under the guidance of local expert Captain Rixon, to an authentic Peking Duck restaurant for authentic Peking Duck, a must when one visits Peking (Beijing). After dinner, we treated ourselves to a massage and agreed that we had a great end to another busy day. Our final day in Beijing started with a concert with the PLA-N (People’s Liberation Army – Navy) band at a gymnasium on the navy base. We were the first international band to perform at this base and the concert was attended by some high ranking senior officers of the Chinese Navy, defence attaches and cadet officers. We opened the concert with some jazz and rock, and were then entertained by the PLAN band. One of the singers from the Chinese Band asked Leading Seaman Beach to join him in “Sailing” and although Jason has a certain degree of shyness (!) he accepted. He reports that it was a great experience and it was certainly a huge hit with the crowd. The Director of the PLA-N band Colonel Li Xing conducted Advance Australia Fair and I conducted the Chinese National Anthem. The 400 Chinese military personnel really enjoyed the concert as did the 100 VIPs. After a magnificent buffet lunch with the Chinese band we headed back to the motel to collect our things and begin the long trip home. By the time we arrived at the airport and checked in for the 2130 flight everyone was exhausted and agreed that sleep was a good option for the trip home. The final word comes from Leading Seaman Jason Beach. “It was a fantastic trip and a great experience. The band sounded great and for all of us I am sure it was one of the best rock group gigs we have done in the Navy. They trip wouldn’t have been what it was if it wasn’t for the help and friendship of Captain Vaughn Rixon and his wife Felicity. They went out of their way to make the trip a memorable and enjoyable one, and it was.”