ANZAC DAY 2011 -LEST WE FORGET
May 11th, 2011 | Author: Jim the Backpacker
Once again Anzac Day 2011 was one of the most moving moments we have had on the Track since 2002.
Back Track has always commemorated Anzac Day on the remote summit of Brigade Hill situated approximately half way along the Kokoda Track. We have chosen this location for 2 reasons.
Firstly it is one the Australian armies most sacred sites. On the exact location where we conduct our dawn ceremony, 52 Australian soldiers were buried who lost their lives in the defence of their country. In total 88 Australian soldiers from the 2/14, 2/16 and 2/27th Battalions died or ‘were missing in action’ during the savage Battle of Brigade Hill. The remains of the 52 soldiers buried on Brigade Hill and a further 2o soldiers who were buried on nearby Mission Ridge were later transferred to the Bomana War cemetary.
Secondly, Anzac Day ceremonies are also conducted at Isurava battle site on the Track and at Bomana War Cemetary in Port Moresby. However to attend either of these ceremonies involves having to trek in line for 9 days with so many other trekking companies and competiting for campsites and generally speaking this has very little appeal to us.
Over the years,we have considered possibly having a Team attend the ceremony in Port Moresby, however, unfortunately this also would mean that if we started the trek before or just after Anzac day, we would still have to trek in queue with too many other groups. Just a bit too tight and claustrophobic for us.
The weather was kind to us as dawn came on Anzac day and as the clear,morning sky glowed faintly blue, the first suns rays hit our 2 flagpoles erected on the summit the day before . The Australian and PNG National flags looked wonderful flying in the light breeze. We had also erected 52 markers in neat lines directly in front of the summit momument and our flag poles. The markers symbolised the 52 brave souls that died on Brigade Hill.
We had set up a small tent town just below the summit to accommodate our 4 teams, totalling 60 trekkers and with the local villagers from Efogi and Naduri and Menari who travelled to the summit with us to be part of the Dawn ceremony, plus all our trek crew, we were a force to be proud of as we sang and conducted our Dawn Service. Thank you to the SDA Pastor from Efogi Village for his prayers conducted in the Motu language. Thank you to the Back Track Trek crew choir plus the singers from Naduri, Efogi and Menari villagers for their beautiful singing before, after and during the ceremony. Thank you to all our trekkers, those who shed tears and those who managed to hold them back, thank you for sharing such a wonderful morning.
Back Track has plans to be back on the summit next Anzac day 2012. Love to have you join us and be part of a very special Kokoda/Anzac day moment.
If you would like to read the ceremony service, and view some pics, please visit our web page:- TBA