The next two weeks represent an important time in the
Anzac Centenary program with the commemoration of the
75th anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein on 23
October, followed by the 75th anniversary of Kokoda
Track and the Beachheads on 2 November.
Three major battles occurred around El Alamein in Egypt between July
and November 1942, and the Australian Imperial Force
figured prominently in two of them. Over the five
months, Australia suffered almost 6,000 casualties.
The battle was a decisive victory for the Allies,
halting the Axis advance on Cairo and enhancing the
already formidable reputation of the Australian 9th
Division.
Twenty-six veterans of the Battle of El Alamein will
attend a Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War
Memorial (AWM) on 23 October to mark the anniversary.
Between July and November 1942, Australians were also
fighting along the Kokoda Track in some of the most
iconic battles in Australia’s history.
On 2 November 1942, Australia retook the village of
Kokoda and, joined by American troops, went on to win
the final battles of the campaign at the Buna, Gona and
Sanananda Beachheads.
Dislodging the Japanese from Papua came at an
enormous cost, with the entire Kokoda campaign resulting
in more than 1,800 Australian lives lost and more than
3,600 wounded or struck down with illness.
Eleven Kokoda veterans will attend a Last Post
Ceremony at the AWM on 2 November to commemorate the
anniversary of the campaign.
The public is encouraged to attend both Last Post
Ceremonies and to pause and reflect on the service and
sacrifice of the Australians who fought in both
campaigns.
