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"Many a man lying out there at Pozières or in the low scrub at Gallipoli, with his poor tired senses barely working through the fever of his brain, has thought in his last moments: 'Well - well - it's over; but in Australia they will be proud of this.'." Charles, Bean, Australian War Journalist and key figure in the creation of the Australian War Memorial.

Australia has a proud military tradition hung on the character of the servicemen themselves, which prizes bravery, mateship and a good sense of both honour and humour. Apart from sport, Australian military history is one of the few things all Australians will unite to feel proud about.

The War Memorial building is a triumph of respectful architecture; large and looming with its serious looking copper domed roof and heavy symmetrical pillared entrance hall leading into a bright open courtyard where the eternal flame burns in the sunshine, it’s flanked by a bush clad mountain and a long drive lined with eucalypts and memorials.

Exhibitions examine conflicts from the time of the first settlement. Some of the best known moments in Australian history are studied, including Gallipoli, the Kokoda Trail, Sandakan and the bombing of Darwin, as well as lesser known battles and conflicts. The mood is sombre rather than glorious, one of the key reasons for this is the focus on individual experiences, unit diaries and journals have been used to try and give visitors an idea of individual soldier's experiences, as well as a historic overview of the campaigns and battles. Many items have been collected especially for this purpose, memorably a WW1 Australian Imperial Forces uniform off the back of a battle weary solider displayed as is still covered in mud.

There are also a variety of vehicles, including favourite, G for George, the famous Lancaster bomber which flew 89 operations over Germany and occupied territories, as well as other aircraft, tanks, jeeps, one of the mini Japanese submarines captured in Sydney harbour and artillery, guns and shells. Thousands of personal letters, paintings, reports, old news reels, uniforms, photographs and medals (including Victoria Crosses.) make up the collection of relics.

A visit to the Hall of Memory is an integral part of experiencing the war memorial, there the names of all Australian lives lost in conflict are recorded on the walls surrounding the eternal flame. This hall is also the focus point of memorial services on Remembrance Day and Anzac Day.

The war memorial is open every day except Christmas.

Australian War Memorial Site.

Written by  Kat Mackintosh.

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