Battle of Messines – speech Australianceremony

Mister the Governor-chancellor,

Madam the Ambassador, Ambassadors,

Excellencies,

Generals, Admirals,

Mayors,

Membersof the Commonwealth - Belgian Joint Committee,

Dearguests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are gathered here today for theAustralianCommemorativeCeremony to commemorate the 100th(hundredth) anniversary of the Battle of Messines. While the battle is considered an important success for the British Army, leading up to the beginning of theThird Battle of Ypresseveral weeks later, the battle of Messines saw Australia suffer over 6000 casualties. It iswith the utmosthonourthat I attend thisceremony.

The battle of Messines was the first time Australians and New Zealanders fought side by side since the Gallipoli campaign of 1915. It is also the best-prepared and most complete success of any major Western Front attack by the Allies to that stage of the war.

After 2 years of preparation Zero Day was fixed for 7 June, with zero hour at3:10 a.m.,when it was expected that “a man could be seen from the west at 100 yards”. When the detonator switches were triggered, nineteen mines exploded and the earth erupted into pillars of fire and earth, instantly obliterating the thousands of German troops above them.After the explosions, the British artillery began to fire at maximum rate and counter-battery groups bombarded German artillery positions with gas shell.

The attack left the enemy shell-shocked.As Charles Bean, an Australianjournalistwitnissed: Everywhere, after firing a few scattered shots the Germans surrendered as the troops approached. Men went along the trenches bombing the shelters, whose occupants then came out, some of them cringing like beaten animals. They ‘made many fruitless attempts to embrace us,’ reported Lieutenant Garrard of the 40th. ‘I have never seen men so demoralised’.

A 100 years later, we have become accustomed to the stability and peace that our countries and nations have known since the end of the Second World War. Robust international institutions such as NATO, the European Union and the United Nations strengthen us in the hope that we will never again know a war in our regions.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As minister of Defense, I take my responsibility of commemorating the war in our country very seriously. Our nation will continue to pay tribute to the spirit of solidarity and sacrifice of thesesoldiers. Weremaintrulygrateful for their help during the mostprecarious times in world history, and wewillmake sure thattheir sacrifices are alwaysremembered and honored, by transmittingtheirpersonal stories to ouryoungergenerations.

Thank you for your attention.

1