‘Many a man lying out there at Pozières or in the low scrub at Gallipoli, with his poor tired senses barely working through the fever of his brain, has thought in his last moments: 'Well - well - it's over; but in Australia they will be proud of this.'
With the experience of this anguish while reporting on the front line, Charles wanted to show these Australians why they should be proud. In Gallipoli he also noticed that Australian soldiers were avid gatherers of battle souvenirs. When Bean returned to Australia he hoped that a museum would be created displaying these objects after the war. He suggested to the Minister for Defense, Senator Pearce, that a display should be created showing relics and photographs of the battles. The Australian War Records Section (AWRS) was formed in 1917 to make sure that a collection of records and relics of the Great War was kept. Bean wrote six volumes of the Official History of Australia in the war of 1914-1918, some of which were displayed in the opening exhibition in Melbourne in 1923.
The War Memorial has changed locations various times during its existence. Originally while records and relics were being collected the site was in Canberra. However soon after in 1923 a public exhibition was created in Melbourne, which stayed until 1925. It was then moved to Sydney and remained there until 1935. In 1927 a joint design was accepted, designed by architects Emil Sodersteen and John Crust. This building was completed in 1941 in Canberra.
Charles Bean created the first set of aims for the War Memorial. He was concerned that is should not be seen to glorify war or be derogatory to enemy forces. Bean wanted records to be interesting but also to be “described and displayed as to be understood and interesting seventy-five years after the events.” Overall the guidelines set for the memorial were for it to be a non-biased and accurate record of the experiences of Australian soldiers.
The origins of the Australian War Memorial date back to the First World War. CEW Bean was the main contributor to the creation of the memorial, of which the location changed numerous times. The Memorials aims were to demonstrate to the public of the hardships endured by all soldiers, both Australian and enemy forces.
Ryan Davis
Bibliography
Millar, Ann. The origin and establishment of the Australian War Memorial, 1915-41. Australian War Memorial History Conference, 10-14 February, 1986.
McKernan, Michael. Here is Their Spirit: a history of the Australian War Memorial 1917-1990. St. Lucia, Qld, University of Queensland Press in association with the Australian War Memorial, 1991
Origins of the Australian War Memorial, AMW(2002) http://www.awm.gov.au
