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Town Councillors Pay Respects at ANZAC Service

Community

Anzac Day Service 

Mayor Councillor Nigel Coltman laid a wreath on behalf of Hailsham Town Council at the town’s ANZAC Day Commemoration Service held at the War Memorial yesterday [23 April] in remembrance of servicemen from the Commonwealth who lost their lives in war.

The event saw town councillors join representatives from the Royal British Legion Hailsham & District Branch, veterans and residents to mark ANZAC Day.

A national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day was originally commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I.

British forces were also involved at Gallipoli with the (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) 29th Division which landed on the same day, and Anzac Day now more broadly commemorates all those who served and died in military and peacekeeping operations for their countries.

Town Clerk John Harrison said: “Anzac Day is a time to honour the sacrifice made by others, a sacrifice that has enabled our generation to enjoy the rights of freedom and democracy that Britain and the rest of the Commonwealth offers. Let this always be the case”.

“I’m delighted that many people attended this important service and grateful to them for pay their respects to those who fought at Gallipoli during World War I and for showing their support.”

Notes to Readers:

  • Anzac is the acronym for the ‘Australian and New Zealand Army Corps’, formed in December 1914 by combining the Australian Imperial Force and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The acronym was subsequently adopted as the telegraph code for the corps.
  • Anzac troops served at Gallipoli, in Palestine and on the Western Front. The small cove at Gallipoli where Australian and New Zealand troops landed on 25 April 1915 became known as Anzac Cove. Both countries commemorate Anzac Day every year on 25 April. It marks the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.
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Enquiries relating to this media release

Terry Hall, Communications Officer
Hailsham Town Council, Market Street, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2AE
Telephone: 01323 841702 | Email: terry.hall@hailsham-tc.gov.uk