The history of Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance

On the juncture of the upcoming day of ANZAC Day, accusation of humanities value is presented for the payment of readers of Neos Kosmos, arsenic well arsenic to close a widespread but inaccurate name.

For galore years, respective Greek organisations person referred to the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance arsenic ‘Μνημείο του Αγνώστου Στρατιώτη’, which translates to “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”

However, this designation does not bespeak its humanities and symbolic identity. The much close translation successful Greek is ‘Μνημείο Μνήμης’ (meaning “Monument of Remembrance”), arsenic it is simply a spot of corporate remembrance and honour for each the fallen.

When the Shrine of Remembrance was opened successful 1934, it commemorated the 19,000 Victorians who died successful the First World War.

It is worth noting that astir of them were ne'er repatriated, arsenic the bodies of the fallen were not returned to Australia for burial.

The signifier of repatriating deceased soldiers was established overmuch later, during the Vietnam War, when Australian soldiers who died connected the beforehand were brought location for burial.

Plans to honour an unknown Australian soldier were archetypal enactment guardant successful the 1920s, but it was not until 1993 that 1 was yet brought home.

To people the 75th day of the extremity of the First World War, the assemblage of an unknown Australian soldier was recovered from a cemetery adjacent Villers-Bretonneux successful France and transported backmost to Australia.

The soldier’s individuality was ne'er capable to beryllium ascertained—neither his name, spot of origin, rank, nor the battalion to which helium belonged.

After lying successful state successful King’s Hall astatine Old Parliament House, the Unknown Australian Soldier was interred successful the Hall of Memory connected 11 November 1993.

The soldier was buried successful a Tasmanian blackwood coffin, connected which were placed a bayonet and a sprig of wattle. Soil from the Pozières battlefield successful France was scattered connected his tomb.

Former Prime Minister Paul Keating delivered the eulogy astatine the entombment.

The Unknown Australian Soldier represents the 100,000 Australian soldiers who person died successful each wars.

“LEST WE FORGET”.

*Compiled by Steve Kyritsis, President of the Australian Hellenic Memorial, Melbourne.