ANZAC DAY COMMEMORATION
April, 25. 2013.
Solymár – Hungary
The Australian Embassy in Budapest arranged to hire a courtesy bus to assist with transportation back-and-forth to Solymár to the Commonwealth War Cemetery for members of the Australian and New Zealand communities and as a former „Sheila” was honoured to take part at the ANZAC DAY Commemoration.
Ambassadors, official, military and diplomatic representatives from Australia, New Zealand, Hungary: Lt.Gen. Zoltán Orosz Ministry of Defence, Dr.Attila Tilki National Assembly, Mr. Péter Wintermantel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkey: H.E. Hasan Kemal Gür, Pakistan, Canada, United Kingdom, France and South Africa. laid their wreaths. The officiating Ministers were: Reverend Dr. Frank Hegedűs Anglican Chaplain, Budapest, Reverend Canon Denis Moss Retired Anglican Chaplain and also a Rabbi was present at the Service.. The commemoration began with the National anthems of both sides performed by the Australian musicians from the Rossmoyne Senior High School, Perth, Western Australia. They are currently on an European concert tour and they were at Solymár participating at the Service of the Australian and New Zealand servicemen who are buried here. With their presence for all the individuals at the Anzac Day commemoration made the service more memorable.
The Australian Ambassador to Hungary H.E. John Griffin invited the ambassadors and other attending the Ceremony to a refreshment at the Australian Ambassador’s Residence. I belive the laid body’s souls at Solymár felt the love for them as strong as the day’s sun shined on us. At the Ambassador’s Residence the guests could spend some time to have a talk and enjoy the refreshments and the could not be inevitable without the Aussie meat pie and the jolly good Anzac cookies.
“ANZAC Day became a tradition and a Public Holiday in Australia. Time for mourning to the Australians and New Zealanders who have died in wars. It was established in April, 25. 1915, when Australian and New Zealand Army corps landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Those men whom served on the Gallipolo Peninsula created a legend, adding the word „ANZAC” to our vocabulary and creating the notion of the ANZAC spirit. In 1916 at the first year’s anniversary it was officially announced to be named „ANZAC DAY”. Since then, April, 25 is a day to remember of the HEROES who were reported “MISSING IN HUNGARY”, and stopped for a minute to remember here at Solymár also of those Hungarians who died in all wars, especially during the World War II.
In brief … Quote: “Since the human life is existing on our planet called earth, the World War II. was the bloodiest, deadliest war the world had ever seen. More than 48 million people died, many of them innocent civilians. Twenty-one million militant persons died in the wars. More than 50 nations took part in the wars which change the world forever. All nations suffered enormous tremendous casualties. The Australian casualties from enemy action during the war were breathtaking, 27000 were killed and 23500 wounded. However when non-battle casualties are included these figures raise to 40000 killed an another 66500 wounded and a total of 12000 New Zealanders lost their lives. Almost one million Australians both men and women served in the second world War. The fought in campaigns in Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa. Also in South East Asia and other parts of the Pacific.The Australian mainland came under the direct attack for the first time as Japanese aircrafts bombed towns at North-West Australia and Japanese submarines attacked the Sydney Harbour.
The Budapest’s Commonwealth War Cemetery contains 173 burials of the second world war. There are 13 Australian and 6 New Zealand servicemen buried in the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Solymár. All of them airmen who were brought in from sites all over from Hungary during the war. Three of these burials are unidentified. Many other parachuted safely to the ground, only to be catched and made them prisoners of war. Only 41% of bomber command air-crew survived, 45% were killed during the WORLD War II. Of those who joined the bomber command at the beginning of the war only 10% survived towards the end of the war. These statistics are devastating and represents the sacrifice made by Australians and New Zealanders that effected our lives even to-day. All the allied war graves here at Solymár holds those airmen who were shot down over Hungary in 1944 and 1945. They served with the RAF and the RAAF squadron in strategic bombing incidence. The allied planes were sent over Hungary in 1944-45 to weaken the Nazi war effort, especially during the siege of Budapest, which was one of the most hard-fought battles of the war.”
During the commemoration time … there was put aside by remembering the Hungarian soldiers … approximately 170000 Hungarian soldiers and 600000 civilians who died during World War II. and the many cities which were damaged and where the hardest hit took the capital, Budapest.
The war cemetery at Solymár is a solemn place were families can remember in national pride and gratitude all those who fought and died for freedom in the world.
Both videos were taken during the ANZAC DAY Commemoration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eWXRfwkJg0&feature=youtu.be and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt43tljtwD8
More to be continued … Chapter2. Australian and New Zealand Soldiers in Hungary, recall by Ms.Elisabeth Capelin and Chapter3. introducing the Rossmoyne Senior High School performing on the ANZAC DAY at Solymár, Hungary 2013.
Update, snaps and video by Aggie Reiter
Rolling in Budapest 