A powerful collection of wartime artefacts testifying to the enduring legacy of the ANZACs is on display at the Anzac Memorial as the nation marks 110 years since the landing at Gallipoli this week.
Anzac Day is an opportunity to reflect on a legacy etched in courage and sacrifice that has shaped our nation and resonated through the generations for more than a century.
These artefacts offer a tangible connection to those who served at Gallipoli, ensuring their stories are preserved for generations to come.
Among the artefacts is an otherwise ordinary pocket Bible that saved the life of Corporal Alister Ross at Gallipoli. Carried in his breast pocket, the bible absorbed the full force of a bullet or high-velocity shrapnel fragment, its cover still bearing the imprint of that life-saving moment.
A rare surviving trench periscope, acquired by light horseman Sergeant Roy Harris during the campaign, speaks to the remarkable ingenuity of soldiers who improvised solutions to the challenges of warfare in the trenches.
The 9th Battalion's marker pennant is a poignant remnant of the first battalion to land at Anzac Cove - among them, several hundred men from northern NSW who were part of that historic dawn landing.
Visitors to the Anzac Memorial can see these and many more artefacts from over a century of service by Australian men and women, including the Treasures of the Anzac Memorial exhibition marking the Memorial's 90th anniversary. Entry is free and open daily, 9am to 5pm.
Many of the items in the exhibition can now be viewed digitally following the launch of the Memorial's online collection on the Anzac Memorial website.
Minister for Veterans David Harris said:
"Anzac Day is a time for the NSW community to come together and pay tribute to the first ANZACs and to all the brave servicemen and servicewomen who have since followed in their footsteps.
"Thanks to the generosity of those who returned from Gallipoli and the families of those who served, artefacts like these now sit in collections such as the Anzac Memorial's, ensuring the stories of courage and sacrifice of those who landed at Anzac Cove 110 years ago can be shared with generations to come.
"These artefacts hold a special place with my family, as my great great uncle Duncan Chapman served in the 9th battalion and was the first ashore at Gallipoli in 1915.
"I want to encourage everyone to visit these artefacts but for those who are unable to visit in person, the online collection enables anyone to view the memorial virtually and experience the thousands of donated items."
Anzac Memorial's Senior Historian and Curator Brad Manera said:
"The Gallipoli campaign in 1915 saw the birth of the ANZAC legend. The gallantry of the Australian soldiers attracted international attention and created a reputation for military skill that is the foundation of a tradition enjoyed by the Australian Defence Force to this day.
"The great-hearted men who fought at Gallipoli, and the women who nursed and supported them, are all long dead but the mementoes and souvenirs they acquired and entrusted to collections like those of the Anzac Memorial remain. These artefacts are tangible reminders of an extraordinary generation and their legacy of courage, endurance and sacrifice."
