Published on Thursday, 26 April 2018 at 1:37:42 PM
Here is a copy of Mayor Emma Cole's ANZAC Day address. Full photos from the day can be found at the bottom.
Welcome
Welcome and thank you everyone for being here today.
Axford Park is a special place in our Vincent community for remembering the ANZAC spirit.
I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet – the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation – and I pay my respects to their Elders, past present and emerging.
On Anzac Day, we come together as a community to honour generations of Australian and New Zealand servicemen and women.
Those who have – and who continue to – defend our values and freedoms in more than a century of service.
Today marks the anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli in World War I.
We remember our original ANZACs and how they have become a symbol of our national identity.
And we reflect upon the values that allow these brave soldiers to face the seemingly impossible – their courage, compassion, sacrifice and loyalty.
These attributes have been displayed time and time again by Australian service men and women throughout times of war, conflict and peace operations.
During World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan – and more.
We are also mindful today of our serving Australian Defence Force personnel, and the 2,300 members who are currently deployed to operations overseas and within Australia.
Centenary of Anzac
2018 is an important year – and the last year - in our Centenary of ANZAC national commemoration.
The Centenary of ANZAC marks 100 years since our involvement in World War I.
100 years ago, the ANZACs had already faced the horrors of Gallipoli.
They had confronted the ravages of the Somme Offensive, and suffered many losses over a grueling winter on the Western Front.
But there was some light beginning to emerge in this most harrowing war.
The United States had joined the Allied Forces.
And 100 years ago this very day, the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux was won.
This victory in the French town on the Western Front, and the push back of German forces, was a critical turning point in World War I.
Our ANZACs played a pivotal role, with two Australian brigades approaching the town from opposing directions to trap the enemy forces.
But the Battle of Hamel was still to come, and Armistice – the end of the Great War - was more than 6 months away.
Significantly in 2018 - on the 11th day of the 11th month, we will commemorate the centenary of the Armistice.
Our local history
In remembering the ANZACs today, I would like to reflect on some of our own important local history; and a personal story of great significance to our Vincent community.
This is the story of Thomas Lesley Axford – affectionately known as “Jack” – whose name is carried by this Park.
Axford Family
Firstly, I acknowledge and warmly welcome members of the Axford family here today.
We welcome Thomas Axford’s daughter – Shirley Lang – who has travelled from New South Wales to be here today.
And welcome Jack’s many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
We are deeply honoured to have you here.
Jack was part of our community.
Jack and his beloved wife Lilian, known as Maude, lived for a time on Mabel Street, North Perth, before living the rest of their lives together at a war service home on Harrow Street, Mt Hawthorn.
And their five children enjoyed a fine education at North Perth Primary School.
War Service
Axford was awarded the Victoria Cross – the Commonwealth’s highest military honour – for his acts of bravery in WWI during the Battle of Hamel.
He is one of only 100 Australians to have received this distinction.
Jack Axford was a young man from the Goldfields, when he joined the Australian Imperial Forces.
He was assigned to the 16th Battalion as a Private, received training and arrived in France in June, 1916. He immediately joined bloody trench warfare along the Western Front.
Axford’s first major action was at Pozieres in the Somme Valley, where he received his first injury – shellshock. Two days later, he was back on active service.
Axford’s battalion spent much of 1917 in Belgium, advancing to the Hindenburg Line. During this time, Jack was injured again – a bullet wound to the knee.
Just five months later, he was back in France and promoted from Private to Lance Corporal, heading into the Spring Offensive.
By June 1918, his Battalion was involved in heavy fighting at Hamel. It was here that Axford’s actions lead him to be awarded the Victoria Cross.
The events of that day are quite astounding.
The Battle of Hamel and the Victoria Cross citation
Under the cover of darkness on 4th July, Australian and American soldiers advanced in a four mile front along the marshes of the Somme.
The Australians advanced up a hill in the face of heavy enemy fire.
Axford’s platoon advanced through gaps in the barbed wire and kept moving forward.
But the platoon next to Axford’s had stalled – unable to advance because of uncut barbed wire. They were under heavy machine gun fire from enemy trenches, and casualties were mounting.
Lance-Corporal Axford was swift and selfless in his response.
His citation for the Victoria Cross states:
“With great initiative and magnificent courage, he at once dashed to the flank, threw his bombs amongst the machine gun crew, jumped into the trench and charged with his bayonet.
Unaided he [overcame] ten of the enemy and took six prisoners; he threw the machine guns over the parapet, and called out to the delayed platoon to come on.
He then rejoined his own platoon, and fought with it during the remainder of operations.”
There is no doubt that Jack’s courageous and determined actions played a strong role in the advance.
In just 93 minutes, the Battle of Hamel was a victory for the Australians and the Americans.
In much later years, when asked about his actions at Hamel, Jack Axford replied “I must’ve been mad!”
Honouring Lance Corporal Axford
He returned home a decorated war hero.
Jack Axford was honoured on numerous occasions throughout his life, in both Australia and England, by Prime Ministers and members of the Royal Family.
But Jack maintained his humility, a larrikin attitude, and his love of family at his core throughout his life.
He was down to earth, loved the trots and a bet, and was known to stand his ground if he experienced an injustice in his everyday life.
He did not glorify his actions that led him to win the Victoria Cross medal. When children, eager to know the story, approached him, he would say “I got it in a ration tin.”
Jack famously rejected an invitation to be presented to the Queen in 1954 on her Royal visit to Perth. He insisted that his beloved wife Maude should be at his side, and not relegated to the public gallery.
Members of Parliament were seated with their wives so why not Maude?, he argued.
His fierce determination shone through again; it captured the attention of Perth and was reported in the West Australian newspaper.
Jack lost the argument, but – true to his word - he refused to attend, preferring to stay home with Maude.
In 1988, Jack Axford was honoured here when the park we meet in today was named after him – in recognition of our local Victoria Cross recipient, a community member and loving family man.
His memory lives on in his family, and in our community in the naming of this park, and in perpetuity on the memorial behind me.
And this year we will mark the 100 year anniversary of Jack Axford’s Victoria Cross medal by planting a significant tree in this Park.
The ANZAC tradition
Jack Axford’s personal attributes – bravery; selflessness; determination; humility – were common amongst the ANZACs.
These attributes were underpinned by mateship - a proud and defining characteristic of our first ANZACs that survives to this day.
A bond formed by everyday Australians – regardless of age, gender, race or religion.
A connection that bound them in support of each other – often at great personal sacrifice - for the greater good.
We do share a rich local ANZAC history here in Vincent.
Our past and our people are intertwined in where we have come from and who we are today.
By sharing Jack Axford’s story today, I hope we can form a deeper connection to our own history, and more understanding of the man behind the naming of this Park.
Together, these local stories of the ANZACs of Vincent become our collective memories, and weave an enduring legacy in our community.
They help us to remember them and the sacrifices they made.
And to be thankful for the peace, unity and freedom that we enjoy today.
Lest we forget.
ANZAC Day March and Service 2018 Photos
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