Over 500 Aussies gathered at historic gun battery Fort Dardanos, Gallipoli, for an independent Dawn Ceremony.
Hosted by Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours (MMBT), the service included a live performance of the Anzac remembrance song “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda”, by singer song writer Eric Bogle.
The service was created for battlefield pilgrims who missed out on tickets to the official Dawn Ceremony at Anzac Cove, and included live performances, a wreath laying ceremony at the foot of the eternal flame, and poetry readings and commemorative speeches, to acknowledge the sacrifice made by all men and women who have served their country during wartime.
“The centenary of the Gallipoli landings is a momentous occasion in our nation’s history, and to commemorate the Anzacs on the battlefields where thousands of soldiers sacrificed their lives was an incredibly moving experience,” Australian historian, battlefield guide and MMBT founder, Mat McLachlan said.
Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours leads thousands of Australians every year to significant battlefields all over the world, including to Gallipoli, France, Belgium, Germany, UK, Vietnam, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea and more.
Featured Image: Eric Bogle breaks the minute of silence with his song, ‘And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda’
