With Anzac Day quickly approaching, we take a look at how the Bega Valley will mark the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.
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On Tuesday, April 25, towns across the region will mark the Gallipoli landing with a range of events.
In Bega, a dawn service will be held at the Memorial Gates on Carp St from 6am, followed by breakfast at Club Bega on Gipps St.
Preparation for the main march will begin at 10.45am at Club Bega, and at 11am will begin along Carp St towards the Memorial Park.
In Bemboka, a service will begin at the town’s memorial park from 11am.
Preparation will begin at the Hobbs store at 10.30am, with the march beginning at 10.45am.
The march will be followed by lunch inside the Bemboka Hall.
A dawn service will begin at the Bermagui memorial on Lamont St from 6am.
Preparation for the main march will begin at 10.40am opposite the chemist on Lamont St before a service at the memorial from 11am.
Preparation for a march at Candelo will begin at 10.40am at the town hall.
The march will begin at 10.45am, followed by a commemoration service at the memorial at 11am.
In the event of wet weather, the service will be held inside the town hall.
The Cobargo march will begin at the Cobargo School of Arts, at 10.30am, followed by a commemoration service at the town’s soldiers’ memorial on the Princes Hwy at Cobargo.
A dawn service will be held at Tathra from 5.50am at the town’s cenotaph.
A march will begin at 7.45am from opposite the town’s Anglican church, followed by a commemoration service at 8am.
Breakfast will follow the service at a venue to be announced at the service.
At Quaama a brief service will be held at the town’s memorial at 9.30am.
A march will be held from the town hall to the memorial gates at Wolumla from 9am, with preparation beginning at 8.45am.
This month marks the centenary of a number of significant events during World War I.
In April of 1917, the United States declared war on Germany, the Franco-British Nivelle Offensive on the Western Front began, the Canadian Corps claimed victory at the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Vladimir Lenin arrived in Russia and a mutiny broke out within the French army.
For the Australian Imperial Force, April was a difficult period of the war.
Following a strategic withdrawal from the frontline trenches along the Somme sector, on April 11 the Australians attacked a well-defended outpost at Bullecourt.
The diggers were able to penetrate the frontline, but without artillery support over 5000 died and more than 1000 were taken as prisoners of war, the largest number of Australians captured during the war.
