Day 9 ANZAC Day 25 April 2018

We were collected about midnight and taken to the security processing at the railway station at Clissy (outside of Amiens).  It was a large event 8,000 people and security was tight but it was quite efficient.  We then boarded the shuttle buses and arrived about 2.30 PM. The cemetery was quite atmospheric. 

Overall it was excellently organised, the pre-ceremony program was very good and made the time go very quickly, the stands had very comfortable seats and there was excellent visibility from where ever you sat. 

The French Prime Minister was at the service as was Prince Charles HRH, Malcolm Turnball, Marise Payne, Tony Abbot and Derryn Hinch, of all people.

The only down side was for the people going back to Clissy on the buses as they had a 2.5 hour wait.  For us we walked the one kilometre to Villers-Brettenoux which took us 15 minutes. Our itinerary diverged from what was advertised and we were in VB for the wreath laying for their that but we did get to see Malcolm Turnball up close and two of our group, another couple from Brisbane got to shake his hand.

Afterwards we went to the Victoria School in the town that was rebuilt by the children of Victoria.  They have a big sign “Never Forget Australia”. Having missed breakfast we were taken by bus to a winery in the town of Albert. One of our tour group, Helen has their birthday on the 25 April, so the tour company organised champagne and a chocolate brownie birthday cake with fresh strawberries and cream on top.

After lunch we went to our third ANZAC Day service at Bullecourt and then yet another one at the Digger Memorial, just outside of the town.