Australian military personnel joined community members across Wiltshire to celebrate Anzac Day, an annual celebration commemorating the contributions of Australian and New Zealander Commonwealth soldiers.

On Tuesday, April 25, a small group gathered around the flagpole in the centre of the World War I chalk map of Australia on the hills over Compton Chamberlayne, while others gathered at the Commonwealth War Graves in the churchyard of St Lawrence Church in Stratford sub Castle.

Both events were attended by representatives of the Australian military.

Schoolchildren maintained a tradition that has taken place at St Lawrence Church every Anzac Day since World War I by laying poppies on the graves of 31 Australian and New Zealander servicemen interred in the churchyard of St Lawrence Church, and Major Nick Garrett of the Australian Army laid a wreath at the Cross of Sacrifice.

In recent years, an Aboriginal flag has been flown from the church tower in memory of Aboriginal soldier Joseph Knight, who would not have been acknowledged as a veteran in Australia at the time of his death. 

Joe Flick, an Australian Aboriginal, has formed a special bond with Stratford School and this year arranged for three flags – Australian, Aboriginal and Union Jack – with 9ft poles to be presented to the school. 

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After the flags were used in the service and on behalf of Joe, Major Garrett passed the flags over for safekeeping in a special ceremony outside the church.

At the event in Compton Chamberlyne, the leader of the Australian army contingent, Major Sam Hand, gave a speech, thanking the people of Wiltshire for the “care and hospitality afforded to those soldiers,” and for “helping us honour their sacrifice and for the enduring restoration effort made in keeping their esteemed legacy alive.”

After the service, over tea and cakes in the Compton Chamberlyne village hall, housed in what was once one of the huts used in the World War I camp, Major Hand presented Helen with a plaque of the map of Australia in gratitude for all of the work she has done to preserve this important piece of Australian heritage in the Wiltshire countryside.