Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux, France
On Tuesday, 25 April, representatives from the Thales Veterans Committee attended the Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux, France.
The Australian National Memorial, located behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, honours the Australian soldiers who fought in France and Belgium, and who lie under the battlefields. The Memorial commemorates the 10,719 Australian casualties who died in France and who have no known grave.
Mark Hilton, VP Digital Systems and Executive Sponsor of the Thales Veterans Committee, Nick de Bont, Chief Security Officer and Chair of the Veterans Committee and Andy Kirkpatrick, Sales Director Digital Systems attended the service and were all moved by the ceremony.
“Standing here at such a special place, it’s hard not to reflect on the sacrifice that so many Australians and New Zealanders made on the battlefields of France. On ANZAC Day, we recognise this legacy and the legacy of all our veterans and thank them for the contributions made, and continue to make in our community” Mark Hilton, VP Digital Systems and Executive Sponsor of the Thales Australia Veterans Committee.
Following the Anzac Day Dawn Service, a service was held in the town square of Villers-Bretonneux, with those in attendance including The Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite, Assistant Minister for Defence and Assistant Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, Chief of Navy, and Her Excellency Ms Gillian Bird, Australia's Ambassador to France.
While Mark, Nick and Andy were representing the Thales Australia Veterans Committee, they were also in attendance to support The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay. Legacy’s milestone was referred to during the Dawn Service, with the speaker noting the enduring support and care provided by Legacy to veterans and their families.
If you’d like to read more about our commitment to veterans and their families, please head to our website, here.