Centenary has ‘strengthened historic bond’

COMMEMORATING THE centenary of the Armistice together has “strengthened the bond” between Britain and Australia, the country’s Minister for Veterans has said.

Some 331,000 Australians served overseas during the First World War, the vast majority of whom fought on the Western Front alongside British soldiers.

However, of the more than 60,000 Australians who perished, only one returned home as an identified casualty.

The Australian Minister, Darren Chester, said the First World War had marked a “coming of age for a young nation” and the centenary commemorations had “served to increase Australians’ understanding of the major contribution we made”.

As part of events marking 100 years since the end of the conflict, a British unknown soldier has been laid to rest with two Australian comrades at Tyne Cot Cemetery near Ypres.

On November 11 each year thousands of people gather in Canberra for the national ceremony of remembrance.