These days I can be found in Albany, Western Australia, where there will be a series of commemorative events taking place from October 31 to November 2.

To mark this occasion, an international fleet of ships will assemble and an expected crowd of 30,000 will be attending these events to mark the 100th anniversary of the departure of the first convoy and the role Albany played in Australia’s history.

In October 1914, Albany was the gathering point for ships carrying the AIF (Australian Imperial Force) and NZEF (New Zealand Expeditionary Force), which later became collectively known as the ANZACS.

Merchant ships carrying troops from New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales departed from Princess Royal Harbour on November 1, 1914, heading to Egypt and Gallipoli.

 Young men from the Bega district, including my grandfather, who was in the First Light Horse, were part of this convoy. 

My grandfather was one of the “fortunate” ones.

Although shot and wounded at Gallipoli, he returned to Bega and lived a long and full life unlike many of the men who never returned.

Now 100 years later, as I gaze across the beautiful and peaceful King George Sound, I wish he could know that his granddaughter will be present at this event and my thoughts will be with him and the young men from the Bega district. 

Joni Mather

Albany WA