STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE RT. HON.
HAROLD HOLT, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
16TH MARCH, 1967
ANZAC COMMEMORATIVE MEDALLION AND BADGE
Last March, the Minister for Defence announced that it had
been decided by the Australian Government, in consultation with the New
Zealand Government, to issue a medallion and lapel badge to the veterans
of the Gallipoli Campaign.
I am glad to be ale to announce that arrangements have now
been completed for the production of the medallion and the badge. The
Minister for the Army will be arranging distribution to those wishing to
receive them as soon as possible.
The Government hopes that production of the medallion and
lapel badge will be sufficiently advanced to permit at least some of them
to be distributed by Anzac Day.
The medallion ( with the name of the recipient inscribed) will
be issued to the surviving ' Members of the Australian Defence Force who
served on the Gallipoli Peninsula, or in direct support of the operations
from close off -shore, at any time during the period from the first Anzac
Day in April, 1915 to the date of final evacuation in January, 1916. Next
of kin or other entitled persons will be entitled to receive the medallion on
behalf of their relatives, if the relative died on active service or has since
died. For surviving members, a lapel badge will also be available
for wearing. This will be a replica of teoverse ( or front) of the
medallion and will be about 1" high and 2/ 3" wide the same size as the
R. S. L. badge. The medallion is the work of Mr. Raymond Ewers, the wellknown
Australian artist, based on a suggestion by Mr. Eric Garrett, a
staff artist with the Department of the Army. It has been endorsed by
both the Government of New Zealand and ourselves. It will be approximately
3" high and 2" wide. The obverse of the medallion depicts Simpson and
his donkey carrying a wounded soldier to safety. It will be bordered on
the lower half by a laurel wreath above the word ANZAC. The reverse
( the back) shows a map in relief of Australia and New Zealand superimposed
by the Southern Cross. The lower half will be bordered by New Zealand
fern leaves. The medallion will be cast in bronze and the lapel badge will
be metal of a bronze colour.
For the information of honourable members I present also a
brief statement setting out the conditions of eligibility which will apply to
the medallion and badge and the manner in which those desiring to receive
them should apply. / 2
BACKGROUND CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY
All members of the Australian Defence Force who served
during the Gallipoli Campaign are entitled to receive the Anzac Commemorative
medallion. The Campaign lasted from April 25, 1915 to January 8, 1916.
The award will be made for service on the Gallipoli Peninsula and service
in support of the operations in an area off-shore eastward of a line drawn
from Yukyeri Point ( lat 39 SCU 40" N long 26 9' 45" E) through a point in
lat 39 53' N long 26 0' E thence to Cape Gremea ( lat 40 35' N long 26 6' E).
The award will also be available to members of philanthropic
organisations and the Press who were accredited to the AIF, and to
Australian members of the crews of merchant ships or hospital ships
which operated in direct support within the defined area.
Note The boundary line would run just off -shore from the land masses
north and south of the Dardanelles, and is estimated to be within about
miles from the beach at Anzac Cove.
Applications Applications by next of kin of deceased Anzacs whose service
conforms with the above conditions will be determined in accordance with
the provisions applying to the issue of service medals. Briefly, these
provide for medals to be issued to the executor or administrator of the
estate or, in the absence of probate or letters of administration, to the
next of kin in the following order of relationship
Widow, eldest surviving son, eldest surviving daughter,
eldest surviving brother, eldest surviving sister.
Al11 applications for the Anzac Commemorative Medallion
should be addressed to the Secretary, Department of the Army, Canberra,
giving as many details of service as possible. This must include full
name ( not initials), service number and unit. In the case of applications
by next of kin of deceased veterans, their relationship to the deceased
should be given, and other eligible persons should provide a reference
to the authority for their claim.