On 11 November 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare.
With their armies retreating and close to collapse, German leaders signed an Armistice, bringing to an end the First World War.
From the summer of 1918, the five divisions of the Australian Corps had been at the forefront of the allied advance to victory.
Beginning with their stunning success at the battle of Hamel in July, they helped to turn the tide of the war at Amiens in August, followed by the capture of Mont St Quentin and Pèronne, and the breaching of German defences at the Hindenburg Line in September.
By early October the exhausted Australians were withdrawn from battle. They had achieved a fighting reputation out of proportion to their numbers, but victory had come at a heavy cost. They suffered almost 48,000 casualties during 1918, including more than 12,000 dead.
In the four years of the war more than 330,000 Australians had served overseas, and more than 60,000 of them had died. The social effects of these losses cast a long shadow over the postwar decades.
The Australian War Memorial calls on all Australians to remember them by observing one minute’s silence at 11am on the 11th of November for Remembrance Day.
By observing one minute’s silence we pay tribute to the men and women who have served and are still serving in our defence forces and remember those who have died or suffered in conflicts, wars and peacekeeping operations.
This Remembrance Day, share who you are remembering on social media using the hashtag #WeRememberThem
Remembrance Day National Ceremony
On 11 November 2020, the Australian War Memorial will hold a nationally televised Remembrance Day commemorative ceremony.
In light of the restrictions resulting from the pandemic, the format of the ceremony has been altered to ensure it complies with COVID-safe rules and will be attended by a limited number of invited guests; and broadcast live across Australia by the ABC and available later on ABC iview.
As always, the service will include the laying of wreaths and a minute’s silence on the eleventh hour.
At this time, the Australian public will be encouraged to safely pause in their homes, schools or workplaces to observe the minute’s silence to remember not only those lost, but all who came home and also those who follow in their footsteps.
Order of Service
The National Ceremony commences at 10.45 am with the arrival of the Guard of Honour provided by Australia’s Federation Guard.
Following this the playing of the Digeridoo, provided by Leading Aircraftman Tarryn Roach, a Worimi man of RAAF Base Williamtown, to welcome guests before a minute silence will be observed. The Remembrance Day Commemorative Address will be given by Corporal Daniel Keighran VC.
The order of service is available to View here.
After-hours Commemoration
This Remembrance Day the Australian War Memorial is offering extended visiting hours to the Commemorative Area and Hall of Memory, allowing members of the public to pay a personal tribute.
Visitors may also view the wreaths laid earlier in the day by dignitaries and members of the Diplomatic Corps as a gesture of a unified desire for peace and in respect of those men and women lost in all nations during war and other operations .
The evening opening will commence at 5.30pm and run until 7.00pm. Visitors will not need to book a ticket for the after-hours visit but will need to provide name and contact details on arrival for contact tracing purposes.
General Information
The Australian War Memorial’s Poppy’s Café will be trading as per normal 9.00 am-3.00 pm (kitchen will be open from 11.00 am-2.30 pm)
For further enquiries please email: ceremony@awm.gov.au or call 02 6206 9813
