UK: HMS Bulwark Hosts ANZAC Commemoration

Sailors, Soldiers, Airman and Royal Marines from the UK, Australia and New Zealand held a moving and poignant service to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice made by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli during World War I.

The ceremony was held aboard the Devonport based warship HMS Bulwark whilst on a multinational exercise of the North West coast of Scotland hours after she had deployed her boats for an amphibious landing.

The Australian and New Zealand personnel, who where embarked as part of the planning and execution staff for the exercise hosted the traditional ANZAC Day Dawn Service. This began at 0445 as the sun rose above the horizon. Following an introduction and a number of readings prayers were led by Bulwark’s Chaplain Rev Dave Roissetter.

The poem In Flanders Fields was read by Sub Lieutenant “Kurt” Story Royal New Zealand Navy who is an exchange Officer serving in Bulwark. The Last Post was sounded and a one minute silence observed, the end of which was marked by the sounding of Reveille.

Speaking of the service, Sub Lieutenant Story said, “Having just conducted an amphibious landing similar to the assaults on Gallipoli, it is important for us to pause and reflect on the courage and sacrifice of our countrymen.”

“In our modern world it is difficult to imagine what they went through in the defence of our freedom but it is something that is worthy of remembering and sets an example to today’s Servicemen who are still risking their lives on a daily basis.”

After completing Exercise Joint Warrior, Bulwark will be off Weymouth and Portland for the bulk of the summer, supporting the Dorset Police, acting as a floating command centre for the security mission surrounding the Olympic and Paralympics’ sailing events.

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Naval Today Staff , May 01, 2012; Image: Royal Navy