In 1948 a de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 TT213 was delivered to Australia for tropical trials. Received by No. 1 Aircraft Depot on 8 June 1948 it was given the Royal Australian Air Force registration A83-1, although this was never applied to the airframe.
On 10 September 1948 it was delivered to ARDU (the Aircraft Research and Development Unit). The Sea Hornet was flown by RAAF pilots for 49 hours on Ministry Of Supply tests before it was returned to No 1AD on October 20 1950. It was returned to de Havilland on 6 March 1951.
We usually attend ANZAC Dawn Service in our home town of Singleton. However since our daughter joined the RAN and was marching in Sydney we travelled down to see her.
By far the biggest parade in the state if not Australia (we haven’t seen Melbourne’s parade so cant compare). It was impressive for its sheer size.
Getting There
Travelling down by train we arrived at Central Station in plenty if time to walk into the city a grab a coffee along the way. We could have caught a train to Hyde Park but wanted to stretch our legs after a 2 hour train journey.
We picked a spot near Bathurst Street and staked our place at the barriers so that we could get the best view. This turned out to be a good plan as the crowd was soon several people deep.
The ANZAC Day Parade
The parade started with the cavalry horse being led with no rider but with boots placed backwards in the stirrups to represent its deceased rider and extending this to all of those killed in battle.
For Fallen Comrades
Veterans who were no longer able to walk or march followed in cars. These all received huge cheers as they went past. Veterans then passed marching behind their unit flags, some interacting with the crowd, all receiving huge cheers.
Ford Falcon Taxi For Veterans
Plymouth Taxi For Veterans on the March
Once the veterans had passed currently serving personnel marched passed.
World War 1 Flags
Royal Australian Navy
Interspersed with the marchers were bands from around the state with the Scottish bands with pipes and drums providing some great sounds. The parade goes on for 4 hours, and provides a lot of history to today’s society. Once the parade is over, there is the opportunity to play two up, or eat and socialise throughout a huge area.
Scots Band on Anzac Day
The march ends at the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park, where the ceremony is held.
ANZAC Memorial Hyde Park Sydney
If you are in Sydney on April 25, it is highly recommended that you go and visit the parade. If you live in Sydney, this is something worth doing, to remember those how have and do serve Australia.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
