Commemorating the
110th Anniversary of the First
ANZAC Day Service in York

In his address at the ANZAC Day service in Holy Trinity Church, York in 1916 the Rector, The Revd Sydney Sutherland Bullen (Rector 1911-32), took as his text the eleventh verse of the twelfth chapter of the Book of Revelation “their love of life did not make them shrink from death”.

As reported in the Eastern District Chronicle of Friday, 28 April, Mr Bullen asserted “surely no anniversary came so quickly and spontaneously into being as this of “ANZAC Day” as by common consent the subjects of King George, right throughout the Empire have agreed with generous enthusiasm to pay this day their tribute of affection and admiration for the men who in the Dardanelles have laid their lives in the high cause of justice, honour and freedom”, albeit as he admitted it was “costly in the blood and suffering of our brothers, and regrettable because its successful achievement might have done much in hastening the end of this cruel war”.

Referencing, in part, Mr Bullen’s address The Revd Canon Dr Philip Raymont, the present priest-in-charge of the parish, who preached at the Service of Choral Evensong commemorating the 110th Anniversary of the 1916 service at Holy Trinity Church, York on Saturday, 25 April, noted how Mr Bullen thought “this day is a monument of something more than a military failure. There is rightly upper most in our minds to-day a legitimate pride chastened as it must be by profound sorrow.”

However, Bullen continued “Each one today is a hero and wins for himself an imperishable fame. And in the many months that follow under well-nigh insufferable conditions, that courage and disdain of death are equalled by their patient fortitude and endurance through trials or hardship, sickness, and privation. Yes, in spite of all else we can this day thank God that he has endowed our young nationhood with such a spirit and courage. We mourn them, those brave young souls whose bodies rest within sound of the sea on the Gallipolean shores.

We thank God for them. Their love of life did not make them shrink from death. They have given to their country an imperishable legacy which will prove “a precious heritage’ and inspiration to Australia throughout her generations”.

Alongside Bullen’s effusive call to patriotism he did acknowledge that while it was a day of legitimate pride and thanksgiving it was also a day of sorrow for God alone can comfort the bereaved homes of the Anzac heroes. “The nation would be poor indeed without the quiet courage and sacrifice of the mothers, wives, and sisters of the brave men we commemorate to-day.”

Dr Raymont commented that alongside Bullen’s world view the First World War was for our young nation a deeply divisive engagement for “God, King and Country”, not least reflected in the results of the 1916 and 1917 conscription “referenda” which both failed for “The debate split the nation with the working class and unionists feeling they were bearing the brunt of the war and voted predominantly against conscription. Protestants with a connection to Britain voted in the majority to assist the Empire by introducing conscription, while Roman Catholics, most of whom were of Irish background, and opposed to the British handling of Irish independence, mostly voted against it.”

Dr Raymont reminded the congregation that by the mid-1930s all the rituals we now associate with ANZAC Day – dawn vigils, marches, one minutes’ silence, memorial services, wreath laying ceremonies and reunions – had been firmly established as part of Anzac Day culture; principally through the efforts of the Anglican priest who devised them, Canon David Garland, a military chaplain, and the energetic secretary of Queensland’s Anzac Day Commemoration Committee. Though an Anglican, Garland was keen to make the services ecumenical, and therefore accessible to all Australians.

In his address the preacher recalled that from the 1960s to the 1980s the popularity of Anzac Day diminished; fewer people seemed to think armed conflict was worthy of commemoration, many perceiving the day as an excuse for many men to get drunk and play two-up, which was only legal on Anzac Day; this behaviour satirised in Alan Seymour’s 1958 play, The One Day of the Year.

While it is clear Anzac Day has regained much of its original status; many people consider it Australia’s unofficial national day. Not least this is reflected by families who see ANZAC Day as an important way to honour the memory of loved ones killed in war and service.

In reflecting upon the place of war and ANZAC Day in our national life Dr Raymont suggested that we would do well to reflect and act upon the hope for peace found in the words of the Eighth Century BC prophet Micah who contends that the ways and judgment of God is that swords should be beaten into ploughshares, and spears into pruning hooks; and that nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

Given the amount of warfare and civil unrest taking place in our world he suggested that while it might be easy to think of Micah as a naïve prophet it is clear that war is no antidote for war. Instead Dr Raymont suggested we would do much better to promote and live out the two great commandments of the Jesus, the Prince of Peace, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” And on them might hang also peace in our time!

The service was led by “The Chapel Choir” under the direction of Ms Aishah Chadwick-Stumpf with Mr David Gething as the organist. The hymns “Now the labourer’s task is o’er” and “Nearer, my God, to thee” which were sung in 1916 were sung while visiting internationally acclaimed pianist Dr Donna Coleman offered Nun komm’ der Heiden Heiland by J S Bach as a prelude and Ich ruf’ zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ by

J S Bach as an opportunity for reflection after the address. The service which was well-attended concluded as did the 1916 service “The Dead March” from Saul by GF Handel being played on the organ.