What do you think of when you read the words ‘war memorial’? Probably a
statue or the memory of a remembrance ceremony, no? The Canberra War Memorial is
certainly an awe-inspiring building, constructed to honour fallen ANZAC soldiers,
but it is also so much more than that.
Even
if Australian military history is not a subject you are especially passionate
about, the inspiring, and often heart-breaking, stories you can uncover on a
visit to the museum are truly humbling.
The Memorial
The
walkway from the main entrance leads through an arch to the main memorial area,
the commemorative courtyard. In the airy rectangular courtyard the names of thousands
of fallen soldiers are engraved on the walls. Visitors leave remembrance
poppies in the cracks between panels, a striking and poignant symbol of a
much-missed family member. The names of different military campaigns that
Australia has been involved in are engraved on stonework. At the far end of the
courtyard is a domed chamber containing the tomb of the unknown Australian
soldier. The commemorative courtyard is a large space, and with the endless
Australian sky above you, feels larger still, making the sheer number of names filling
the walls seem incredible.
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| Australian War Memorial, Canberra |
The Museum
Downstairs
the building evolves into a museum featuring extensive exhibits on the First
and Second World Wars, as well as smaller exhibits that lead visitors through
other Australian military campaigns, colonial conflicts and through to modern
current-day operations. The First World War displays were closed when I visited,
as they were being prepared for ANZAC centenary activities, but there was still
more than enough to keep me busy in the rest of the displays.
Exhibits
range from galleries showing decorated soldiers, their medals and some of their
personal artefacts, to interactive displays like the air-force bombing mission
simulator that shakes you around as you watch video footage from a mission. The
museum houses an extensive collection of items that bring the reality of war to
life right in front of you, such as diaries, war-bride wedding dresses made
from parachute material and items crafted by prisoners of war. Displays such as
these are the real heart-tugging sections.
They
are informative and often tell very personal stories, some of which are easier
to relate to than others.
There
is also an aircraft hall that houses military vehicles and airplanes. Video
footage plays around them, giving visitors an idea of the noise and chaos that
surrounded their operation.
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| War time wedding dress made from parachute material, Australian War Memorial, Canberra |
My experience
A
history curriculum can only contain so much and, having been educated in the UK,
my teachers focused on the impact of the First and Second World Wars in Europe.
Having spent several years in Australia I have learned a lot about those wars in
Australia and Asia, but I could easily have spent several further hours
exploring the various theatres of war around the Pacific. The Canberra War
Memorial exhibition is extensive, and I wasn’t even able to see the First World
War display, which of course tells the original ANZAC story.
After
spending several hours in the museum I left feeling slightly overwhelmed, but knowing
there was still so much to see. The exhibits were really interesting and there
were several that would interest young visitors too. I could easily have spent a
whole day there, and I would probably still not have managed to see everything!
Clearly, Canberra War Memorial requires another visit.
