Monday, March 19, 2012

Taphophile Tragics # 13


The Australian War Memorial (AWM) is the most visited public building in Australia. It is located in our national capital, Canberra. Within the AWM, is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, lying in the Hall of Memory. The first image is of the decorative interior dome of the Hall of Memory. The second image shows the Commemmorative Courtyard with the Pool of Reflection, and the Eternal Flame. The final image shows the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier itself.


The AWM says
"Plans for a tomb for an Australian unknown soldier were first put forward in the 1920s but it was not until 1993 that someone was at last brought home. With great reverence, the remains of an unknown Australian were removed from a cemetery in France in 1993 and transported to Australia. After lying in state in King’s Hall in Old Parliament House, he was interred in the Hall of Memory at the Memorial on 11 November 1993. The Unknown Australian Soldier was buried in a Tasmanian blackwood coffin, with a slouch hat and a sprig of wattle, and soil from the Pozières battlefield was scattered on his tomb. He represents all Australians who have been killed in war."

* * * * *
Welcome to the 13th week of Taphophile Tragics.

Your contribution is most welcome. Please ensure that you include some details of the cemetery in which you took your photographs, and link directly to your post, rather than simply to your blog in general. Mr Linky opens at 10pm Monday, Sydney time (GMT+11). When you can, please visit the other contributing bloggers to show your appreciation of their endeavours. Due to time zone variations and overcrowded schedules, some contributions are made later than Tuesday/Wednesday.

18 comments:

Unknown said...

Great photos of a beautiful place, Julie!

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

Fine photos of this magnificent monument, Julie. The Australian War Memorial has a special place in every Australian's heart.

Francisca said...

That is a fine memorial. The dome is gorgeous!

Dina said...

I'm glad one soldier was finally brought home to this memorial.

Ann said...

The dome is stunning.

Gemma Wiseman said...

Wonderful atmosphere in this place! Love the lighting round the beautiful dome!

Joe said...

Julie - your photograph of the dome is truly wonderful. It captures the somber respectfulness of the War Memorial perfectly. I visited a couple of years ago and found it a very moving place. I almost couldn't go in as the loss of so much youth and promise hit me like a ton of bricks at the door.

Julie said...

That is how I feel, too, Joe. However, each time I go, I pay my respects to my father's first cousin, Ross Cole, who went down with his ship - S.S. Tregenna - in the North Atlantic in September 1940. He was 24.

ArtandArchitecture-SF.com said...

What a truly spectacular building. I almost wept when you described the burial of the unknown soldier, what fascinating history.

Sondra said...

... such a beautiful place, full of grace and reverance, a wonderful tribute to all the fallen ones that never come away from war...
Your photos are awesome!!
IM late getting my post made this week...I will visit everyone's post over the rest of the week.

CaT said...

that looks very big and pretty.
and peaceful..

flickr does not work. only 1 pic for now at my blog... :)

Julie said...

Flickr may have been hacked. The CDPB portal has been hacked, too. About 10 days ago.

Anonymous said...

emotional and very moving...a salute to your Australian Unknown!

Gene said...

late again, but not forgotten :-) I'll have time to look at others' posts in a the coming days...I hope

Julie said...

I like these ideas of symbols. I have lots of flowers, so shall concentrate on that on Sunday when I tour Rookwood.

Gerald (SK14) said...

Problems with linky too - just posted at http://hydedaily.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/shadows-over-hyde-cemetery.html

Julie said...

There are problems everywhere at the moment, Gerald. But hopefully the portal will be back by the end of the (northern) weekend.

Gerald (SK14) said...

I've corrected the bad link on my last post and replied to your comment with links to two other photos and pointed to google-maps for you.