As the sun rose on another Anzac Day at Anzac Cove, Türkiye, the members of Australia's Federation Guard and the Royal Australian Air Force Band were ready to showcase their hard work.
Upon arriving in Çanakkale, Türkiye, in the lead-up to Anzac Day, the contingent visited the battlefields of Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair and Anzac Cove, as well as the Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial. This 42-metre-tall monument commemorates the Turkish 'Mehmets' who lost their lives in the Dardanelles between 1914 and 1915, looking like an 'M' when seen from a distance.
After a busy week of cultural and historical immersion, as well as the final rehearsals of all services, the team "stepped off" at Anzac Cove at 1.30am on April 25. The day featured the dawn service at Anzac Cove, followed by a service at Lone Pine, and ended by supporting the New Zealand Defence Force's service at Chunuk Bair.
It was hard for the members of this contingent to explain the deep sense of pride and honour they felt being a part of these services in the birthplace of the Anzac.
Able Seaman Grace McCarter, a member of Australia's Federation Guard, was moved to find the graves of two soldiers from her hometown of Yass, NSW: Private George Grieves and Lance Corporal Harold Williamson.
"Putting those flowers on their graves, running my hands over their names, walking in the very trenches they fought in, it's hard to put into words just how special that is for me," Able Seaman McCarter said.
With the trip nearly at an end, the contingent commander, Captain Lachlan Fletcher, reflected on how much the team invested in the Anzac Day commemoration.
"We've engaged with a number of people within and outside Defence, which has really opened my eyes, in particular, to just how passionate people are around ensuring Anzac Day is one of remembrance and paying tribute to the people that gave their lives so we can be where we are today," Captain Fletcher said.
'Putting those flowers on their graves, running my hands over their names, walking in the very trenches they fought in, it's hard to put into words just how special that is for me.'
Captain Fletcher also spoke on the sense of mateship and humour he experienced earlier in his Army career and after becoming an infantry officer.
"I look around at the same ground they would have seen as young as 14, and it's quite a humbling experience," Captain Fletcher said.
"Anzac Day, for me, is about humility, but also perspective - to understand what they went through in a young nation at the time, in 1915, to sail across to the other side of the world to go fight an unknown enemy."
As the contingent commander for the trip, Captain Fletcher witnessed the team putting their time and energy into practising the drill movements and other ceremonial duties over a number of weeks.
"Not only are they balancing their professional commitments and ceremonial responsibility, but a lot of them have a very close family connection with Gallipoli and Anzac Day," Captain Fletcher said.
"Remaining professional, but also allowing themselves to experience some pretty challenging and deep emotions that come with being here, has been something I've really admired about them.
"I've been incredibly well supported by a number of senior soldiers and junior soldiers in our time over here.
"Obviously we're here for a specific reason, to make sure that we make a ceremony this memorable for the thousands of people that have made that over here."
