2008 ANZAC Ceremony

The ANZAC ceremony will be held on Sunday 27th April at the Western Cemetery Arbroath at 11am.

For more details, please contact David Bond on 01382 667230 or visit the Arbroath Branch of the Royal British League Services ANZAC page on their website

Frederick Batten	Richard Chettle	James Drake	Brian Patterson

ANZAC Ceremony - Arbroath

Hundreds of New Zealand and Australian airmen served in Scotland during WWII. Over one hundred made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf and were buried in Commonwealth War Graves across the length and breadth of Scotland.

There are also many WWI servicemen who are buried in Scotland having succumbed to wounds from France and Flanders. Since 1998 New Zealanders have travelled from across Scotland on the closest Sunday to ANZAC Day to pay their respects to the four young kiwis above, these men represent all those who served in conflict on our behalf.

Every year an ANZAC poppy collection is made and hundreds of pounds have been raised for the Earl Haig Fund which cares for Scottish veterans. For further information on ANZAC day from a kiwi perspective go to this great site http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/ and the NZ RSA at http://www.rsa.org.nz/index.html

The Arbroath ANZAC ceremony takes place at the town's Western Cemetery (see thumbnail on left for directions) and is organised by NZS Scotland with the assistance of the Arbroath Royal British Legion. We also highlight the other conflicts Australians and New Zealanders have taken part in across the globe. This ceremony is also attended by a representative from the New Zealand High Commission in London and local civic dignitaries. In the spirit of ANZAC Australians who live locally take an active part in the ceremony. Commemorations of the four men are read out each year.

The Arbroath Instrumental Band provides appropriate music which includes 'Po kare ana' and 'Waltzing Matilda'. A piper also plays the specially commissioned lament written by NZS Scotland piper Mr Jim Fitzpatrick 'They watch Over Scotia Still'.

For further details of previous ANZAC Ceremonies in Scotland, please contact Pete Leslie

NZS Scotland would like to thank the Kookaburra Restaurant for providing the hot buffet meal in conjunction with the Women's Section of the Arbroath Legion and for their on-going support.

We Will Remember Them - Airmen Memorial

".......The New Zealanders displayed for the Scottish troops a regard greater than they had seemed to entertain for other Home troops with whom they had been associated; and this found expression in a great deal of fraternising in the streets and in billets as well as in the more congenial atmosphere of the numerous estaminats [bars]"

Quote from "The History of the NZ Artillery N.Z.E.F 1914 - 1918 courtesy of Mr Ian Hogg.

Each year we carry on this traditional friendship at Arbroath.