Remembrance Day, 11 November, commemorates war dead from all conflicts. It is a significant moment of reflection about war in Australia. It was originally known as Armistice Day, marking the date and time, 11am, that the hostilities of World War I ended. Over 60,000 Australians had been killed, 152,000 wounded and 4,000 taken prisoner. More than 330,000 Australians had served overseas, of a total of 416,809 who enlisted, of a population of less than five million people.

The war did not officially end with the Armistice, however - that occurred with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919 and its enforcement on 20 January 1920. 

Each year since 1918 the date and time of the Armistice has been commemorated throughout the world. Armistice Day - also known as Peace Day - became commemorated as Remembrance Day after World War II. One minute's silence is observed at 11am.

References

REJOICINGS IN AUSTRALIA (1918, November 12). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved October 17, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155241150

Aston, George, Major-General Sir, The Biography of the Late Marshal Foch, Macmillan, New York, 1929.

'11 November, Remembrance Day', Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/remembrance-day, accessed 30/10/2020.

'Deaths as a Result of Service with Australian Units', Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/war_casualties, accessed 30/10/2020.

 

 

 

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