ANZAC Day - Western Front

So I arrived in Amiens after an already big weekend to prepare myself for an early morning. My hotel was full of aussies, so nice to hear them all. All the aussies I met were on holiday or were living in London and came for the weekend. Was hoping to find sole aussies living in Paris :(. The aus embassy had organised buses out to the dawn service at 3.45am - early early start! It was a bit disorganised to start off with, but I think everyone got out there in plenty of time. Being on my own, I was able to go closer to the front and take the spare single seats(one of the joys of travelling alone!). Ended up sitting next to a lovely couple who were also on the day trip.

The ceremony was amazing and I was so impressed with the design of the memorial, the sun rises over the back of it behind the central tower. Watching the light change as morning drew near was a once in a lifetime experience. It was a different dawn service compared to others that I have been to, the amount of people there for one and when you think Australia lost 23 000 men in these fields where you are standing, France lost something like 204 000, it brought it closer to home. Not being a true Australian (although I will argue otherwise), I got a bit confused about it all, decided I was there to remember all those that die serving their country. I do like the dawn service though and I love Australia for keeping up the tradition and passing it onto future generations.

After the ceremony, there was coffee, tea and little pastries for everyone which was a nice touch and got everyone socialising. I had signed up for the all day bus tour that the embassy had organised for free! Others left to go back to Amiens after the ceremony but our dedicated group went off to the next service in Villers-Bretonneux, the town organised a concert as well which I stayed for a bit but fighting sleep I then headed to the school here which was built using donations from school children in Victoria and also houses the museum. Below is the sign they have in their playground. The museum was good and Kevin Rudd was there!

After we nearly got left behind by the bus (they were doing an easter egg hunt in the park for the kids) we headed off to a school for lunch that the Aus embassy organised. There were lots of defence and embassy staff there. Most didn't have as many medals as Matt I noticed! hehe! Then it was off to Bullecourt for a ceremony in the village. There was a cute little pub on the corner called the Canberra where we had a welcome beer before the ceremony started. The crowds had definitely thinned by now - it was basically the embassy bus and defence representing Australia (definitely rent a crowd by this stage!). Got a good possie here and took a snap of KRudd....

Then it was a short procession to the Australian Digger Memorial on the outskirts of the town. I really liked the idea of everyone walking there as a bit of a pilgrimage. Another ceremony, was a bit weird, aussies seemed to congregate on the left where the aussie soldiers were and the french on the right were the french soldiers were. It just happened naturally - very odd!

So after the last ceremony we all traipsed back to the village where the Mayor had put on champagne and nibbles for everyone :) After another few well deserved beers in the pub we headed back to Amiens and the train back to Paris. Had a late farewell dinner with Smithy and Ingrid and then finally crawled into bed. A long long day, but one for the memory bank!