How we remember
Since the Boer War in 1899, over one million Australians have served in ten wars. Since 1947, more than 30,000 have served in over 50 peacekeeping operations. During these engagements, more than 101,000 Australian lives have been lost.
Alongside this loss we also give thought to over 900,000 men and women who have returned from service. They walk amongst us in our everyday lives, often carrying a heavy burden from their experiences as they transition into civilian life.
Sharing our stories
Sharing family photos, reading letters home from the war, sharing stories, attending bold ceremonies and taking a moment for quiet reflection—these actions and many others help us to keep the memory of Anzac alive for generations to come.
In November 2014, we asked you to share with us the things you do to remember.
Here are just some of the stories people shared on what and how they remember.
Video 'How Queenslanders remember'
See how real people remember and honour those who served.
The history of Remembrance Day
After more than four years of relentless warfare, the guns of the Western Front fell silent at 11am on 11 November 1918.
This moment in time represents Germany’s call for an armistice and their acceptance of the allied terms of an unconditional surrender. This moment attained a special significance in the years following the First World War.
In 1919 an Australian journalist, Edward George Honey, published an article in the London Evening News appealing for a five minute silence on Armistice Day. Five months later a similar suggestion from another person was sent to the King, who quickly endorsed this. During rehearsal, five minutes proved too long and a two minute interval was agreed to.
On 7 November 1919, King George V issued a proclamation asking all people of the British Empire suspend normal activities for two minutes on the hour of the Armistice.
After the end of the Second World War, the Australian and British governments changed the name to Remembrance Day and the tradition of a two minutes of silence was popularly adopted.
In 1997, Governor-General Sir William Deane issued a proclamation formally declaring 11 November to be Remembrance Day. He urged all Australians to observe one minute's silence at 11am on 11 November each year to remember those who died or suffered for Australia's cause in all wars and armed conflicts.
The significance of the red poppy
During the First World War, red poppies were among the first plants to spring up in the devastated battlefields of northern France and Belgium. In soldiers' folklore, the vivid red of the poppy came from the blood of their comrades soaking the ground.
Moina Michael, who worked for the American YMCA, was so moved after reading Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae poem ‘In Flanders Field’ she decided to wear a red poppy. At a meeting of YMCA secretaries from other countries, Moina talked about the poem and wearing the poppy. Anna Guérin, the French YMCA secretary, took the idea further by selling poppies to raise money for widows, orphans, and needy veterans and their families.
The poppy soon became widely accepted throughout the allied nations as the flower of remembrance, to be worn on Armistice Day. The Australian Returned Soldiers and Sailors Imperial League (the forerunner to the RSL) first sold poppies for Armistice Day in 1921. Source: https://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/customs-and-ceremony/poppies
Visit the Anzac Day website to purchase red poppies and associated commemorative merchandise or call (07) 3263 7118.
The First World War fallen
You can now explore almost 10,000 digitised military death records.
