11 32/ 1965 65/ 050
EMBARGO NOT TO BE PUBLISHED, CABLED, BROADCAST OR TELECAST
BEFORE 10.00 P. M. E. S. T. ON SUNDAY, 14TH MARCH, 1965,
FOR PRESS STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
SIR ROBERT MENZIES, M. P.
ANZAC DAY CEREMONY, 1965
AT
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL, CANBERRA
Details for the National commemoration of the Fiftieth
Anniversary of ANZAC were announced today by the Prime Minister
Sir Robert Menzies.
This year being the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Gallipoli
landings The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will be in Canberra to
attend the commemoration on ANZAC Dayl The Prime Minister stated
that The Queen has graciously intimated her intention to send a
special ANZAC Day message to commemorate this most significant event
in the history of Australia and New Zealand, The Queen has expressed
a wish that The Duke of Gloucester shall anrwunce her message at the
commemoration. Therefore, His Royal Highness will take precedence
as Her Majesty's Special Representativq rr the . occasion. The
Governor-General will attend the ceremony4 The PrI. m. Minister added
that His Excellency and the Australian G# ver.. nwt greatly apprecip
Her Majesty's desire to be thus personally asqoioted with Australia':..
commemoration of the ANZAC assault at the Dardenollek
BACKGROUND NOTE
The National ceremony will take place at the Australian
War Memorial on Sunday, 25th April, and is being arrangedwith the
cooperation of the Returned Servicemen's League and the three
Services. There will be a greater participation than usual by
exservicgnen and women and by the Australian Armed Forces.
The Returned Servicemen's League, with financial
assistance from the Government, is arranging to bring to Canberra
for the ceremony, a representative group of ANZAC veterans and war
widows from the States. It is also arranging for The Northern
Territory and the Territory of Papua and New Guinea each to be
represented by an ANZAC veteran. v/
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The Services are arranging for over one thousand personnel,
representative of all branches of the Armed Forces to take part.
This concentration of Australian Servicemen will form one of the
most representative Service gatherings at an ANZAC ceremony in
Canberra. As well, the New Zealand Armed Forces will be represented
by a contingent of sailors, soldiers and airmen who are at present
in Australia undergoing training.
Each of the Australian Services will parade The Queen's
Colour along with a Guard of Honour. There will be a band from
each of the Services and the Army will parade a Battalion of four
companies. The R. A. A. F. Central Band will visit Canberra to accompany
the Air Force Armed contingent of one hundred Airmen. The R. A. A. F.
Unarmed Party will include members of the Women's Royal Australian
Air Force and the R. A. A. F. Nursing Service,
Similarly the Navy Band will accompany the Navy Armed
contingent and the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service will be
represented in the R. A. N. Unarmed Party.
The Army Battalion of four hundred men will come from the
Army Camp at Holdsworthy. The Women's Services from the Army will
be represented in the Unarmed Party. The Citizen Military Forces
will be represented by the local C. M. F. Unit and in addition
Cadets from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, will line the
forecourt of the Australian War Memorial.
Their Royal Highesses The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester
will arrive at the Australian War Memorial at 11.30 a. m. The
exservicemen of ANZAC will then march to their position in the
centre of the forecourt and the wreathlaying will commence.
Two minutes' silence will be observed at noon after which
His Royal Highness will read The Queen's message.
His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester and His Excellency
the Governor-General will take up positions for the march past and
the ceremony is expected to conclude at about 12.20 p. m.
Prime Minister's Department.
14th March, 1965.
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