25/04/2015
ANZAC Gallipoli Centenary
ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. Each year on Anzac Day – 25 April – Australians and New Zealanders mark the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings on 25 April 1915, which began the first major military action fought by their forces during the First World War. This year marks the centenary commemorations of that campaign. In Melbourne, the city’s tram network has featured images and stories of Australian men and women from World War One. Two trams (below left) and stop shelters have been 'wrapped' to inspire the public to share their WWI stories and get involved in the many events commemorating 100 years since the Gallipoli landings. The RAeC Trust has been proud to support this initiative, by providing from its archive collection, the image of Lieutenant William Burn (below right). Burn – born in Australia but educated in New Zealand – had learned to fly in Britain and obtained his RAeC Aviator’s Certificate on 24 February 1914. By 1915, Burn was serving in Mesopotamia and on 30 July, he was acting as Observer on a reconnaissance flight, which suffered an engine failure and made a forced landing in enemy territory. In the subsequent hostilities, Burn and his pilot, Lieutenant George Merz, were both killed. They were the first ANZAC airmen to die in action.
