Many of the artefacts brought back to Australia from overseas reside in the Australian War Memorial as a medium in both furthering the understanding and commemorating the qualities exercised by the soldiers of Australia across all military conflicts. These relics are those that Bean described as ‘the kind that would stir me to the marrow,’ and this is most likely due to the fact that they capture the moment and tell a detailed and unique story of their own. By doing this, an image of what life throughout the war was like is fashioned. The War Memorial’s demand and display of such historical artefacts indeed furthers understanding, as one learns about the conditions through journals, imagines hand-to-hand conflict by looking at various weapons and grasps the atrocity various wars brought about through the thousands of photographs scattered around the buildings. With this knowledge, a realisation of what was achieved by wartime men and women is created leading to admiration and then commemoration. Yet amongst these sources, there are diagrams that provide a general overview of the various wars throughout Australia’s history. They offer a reflection on the past and vividly reproduce moments of conflict, like sources discussed above, yet through dioramas, clay models and scaled maps. This method of distributing knowledge concerning war, attracts attention, and allows for a conveyance of detail concerning warfare, especially the conditions surrounding it, in a way that is as aesthetically pleasing as it is informative. These two forms at the very least enhance knowledge, but also evoke reflection of the great sacrifice that thousands of men and women where willing to make.
Along with this, the War Memorial provides extensive documentation from all military conflicts, be they World War I or Vietnam. These historical reports from the likes of Bean, Jose and Butler, are offered by the War Memorial through its extensive archives. They serve two purposes. One is that they present the horrors of war, often through the eyes of those present at the scene, with marvellous accuracy and detail. Secondly, they are often filled with critical analysis, and these more often than not, illustrate a general consensus of feeling within the general public at that time. Through both these intentions they produce an in depth recount of the many wars Australia has partaken in throughout her
In fulfilling its goal in commemorating those that served their Australia in war, the National War Memorial also houses a prominent commemorative area, a place of reflection and remembrance. Surrounded by spectacular marble and making up the heart of the memorial itself, this section comprises of the Roll of Honour, Hall of Memory and Courtyard. The Roll of Honour, records the names of over 100 000 service men who gave their lives for their country. Engraved on bronze tablets, here names are not ranked, yet all treated and regarded as equal men and women with the utmost respect in accordance with ‘Charles Bean’s idea of an equality of sacrifice.’ It is here that these people are immortalised for what they have done, although essentially in name only, and the War Memorial’s commemoration exemplifies Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For The Fallen, where he states:
‘They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn…’
The commemorative area also includes the Hall Of Memory, an area bedecked in magnificent mosaic and stained glass. Here there is an eternal symbolic meaning, attached ‘to each element of its design’, and its does so particularly through the ‘Tomb of the Lost Soldier.’ This grave, is the resting place of an unidentified Australian soldier from the First World War, yet represents all men and women that gave the ultimate sacrifice. The Hall also commemorates the qualities exercised by servicemen and women throughout all the wars such as a golden ring, which circles across the ceiling dome of the structure, signifying continuity. Along with this, the four pillars within the construction embody the four elements; water, earth, fire and air which individually suggest a notion of eternal tribute of those that fought for Australia. The windows within the area also pay homage to men and women involved in Australia’s military conflicts, with the southern depicting personal traits, the west showing social and the east representing fighting, all qualities exemplified in every one of Australia’s wars.
The very location of the Australian War Memorial also attributes to its pursuit in commemorating all service people of Australia, past and present. The red coloured gravel leading up to the doors of the buildings, symbolises the blood stained earth of far away lands where thousands of Australians fought and died. The building’s position aligned to the Parliament of Australia is also significant, as it is often said that the men and women who are democratically elected to represent our nation, need only look down Anzac Parade to see the effects of greed and arrogance that leads to the explosion of war and the loss of Australian life.
The effectiveness of the War Memorial largely depends upon the individual, and the manner in which one looks at the abundance of material present. Its fundamental structure evokes awe as it in itself is one of great architectural brilliance. Yet like all museums, its contents are what matters and in that respect to the Australian War Memorial is one that ranks as one of the best in the world. Its displays are all easily accessible, and do not suffocate the beholder with long texts and essays and therefore emplace knowledge within the beholder in a simple fashion. Along with this, its continued exploit in commemorating all the sacrifices made for the security of Australia in every opportunity, calls to mind an emotion of gratitude and thanksgiving. The Australian War Memorial not only fulfills its aims, but supersedes them offering a comprehensive guide to military action during our nation’s short but active history. Its presentation inspires wonder and its attention to detail is miraculous.
The Australian War Memorial reaches its goals of furthering understanding and commemorating, by weaving the two aims together in producing a polished approach in recounting military conflict of decades past. It furthers understanding through the overflowing historical material present, and with this commemorates those that gave the ultimate sacrifice by evoking remembrance. Its also honours those that fought for Australia through a dedicatory area that proves to be a great leveler, praising men great and small as equals. Its effectiveness, although solely relying upon the eyes of the beholder, is enhanced in every way through its layout and accessibility. It is without a doubt that the Australian War Memorial fulfills and surpasses every one of its goals and more than satisfies Charles Bean’s description of the building as, ‘Here is their spirit, in the heart of the land they loved, and here we guard the record which they themselves made.’
Bibliography
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CEW Bean, Anzac to Amiens: A Shorter History, Halstead Press, Sydney, 1946
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M Mckernan, Here is Their Spirit: A History Of The Australian War Memorial, University of Queensland Press, Brisbane, 1991
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KS Inglis & J Brazier, Sacred Places: War Memorials In The Australian Landscape, The Miegunyah Press, 1998
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P Dennis, J Grey, E Morris, R Prior & J Connor, The Oxford Companion To Australian Military History, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1995
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For The Fallen, 2004,
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The Australian War Memorial, 2004,
(*Titles in italics and underlined)