For the second year in a row, public ANZAC* Day services were cancelled in Perth this year due to the Premier of Western Australia, Mark McGowan, calling a snap three-day COVID lockdown in the Perth metropolitan and Peel district areas over the ANZAC Day long weekend.
As they did last year, many locals decided to support the “Driveway at Dawn” movement and to participate in personal dawn services on their driveways or balconies.
Janice-Chapman-holding-a-memoir-of-her-father-Frederick-Chapmans-army-service.--Australia,-May-2021
Janice Chapman holding a memoir of her father Frederick Chapman’s army service. Australia, May 20212021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Janice Chapman, a member of the Armadale Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, prepared her balcony with ANZAC Day memorabilia and woke early on ANZAC Day to remember her family who served. She shared her thoughts about commemorating ANZAC Day during the COVID lockdown.
“On Anzac Day we commemorated the service afforded by our men and women for their contributions in all armed and medical services. In particular, on April 25th, we honour the Gallipoli campaign of World War 1, when Australians and New Zealanders each played their part.
We paused as dawn broke, as tradition holds, in line with those brave soldiers who faced a daunting cliff in the first light of a terrible Turkey day.
With grateful and sombre hearts, we stood outside our homes listening to the Ode of Remembrance and the bugle calls streamed by the Returned Services League from our laptops.
Wreaths were laid in memory of those who sacrificed their comfort and their lives in their effort to keep the Australia and Pacific countries free from invasion. Some wore poppies in respect for those such as my great uncle, Walter Richard Chapman, whose body lies in a French grave in Flanders’ Field.
We remember others like my subsequently mentally scarred great uncle, James Ellis Dixon, who won a Croix de Guerre for hurling back a live grenade that had landed at his officer’s feet.
We remember people like my uncle, Stuart Henry Gibbs, who suffered in Sandakan, Malaysia and lies there still.
We also appreciate the service that people such as my father, Frederick Chapman, gave in faraway theatres of war and my brother, Clive Frederick Chapman and his son Nathaniel Fredrik Chapman who have earned mental scars for their action in South East Asia.
These family members are lauded and we stand in honour of them.
As Church members we go forward with uplifted hearts, marching behind our trusted prophet who bears the banner of love, and hope for a peaceful future for all mankind.
Lest we forget.
We will remember them.”
A-photograph-of-Janice-Chapmans-uncle,-Stuart-Henry-Gibbs,-who-suffered-and-died-in-Sandakan,-Malaysia.--Australia.-May-2021
A photograph of Janice Chapman’s uncle, Stuart Henry Gibbs, who suffered and died in Sandakan, Malaysia. Australia. May 20212021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Bryan Skipworth, Stake President of the Perth Australia Southern River Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also encouraged members to fellowship with their neighbours – albeit at a distance, and to share memories with their family on ANZAC Day. He offered the following suggestions:
Share your ancestor's stories of service and sacrifice with your family or hear one from your neighbours (shared across the street, over the fence or over the phone).
Write a letter or card of appreciation for someone who served or is serving in the armed forces or medical support services.
Look up family war service records - the following sites may help:
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Australia_Military_Records
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/New_Zealand_Military_Records
* ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. ANZAC Day is held on April 25 and is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand. It commemorates Australian and New Zealand military personnel who have served and died during wars, conflicts and peace keeping operations. Anzac Day originally commemorated the Australian and New Zealand forces that landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey on 25 April 1915 during the First World War.