My little trip to Canberra

[Yowie]

Hi all,
Last weekend I took a little road trip to Canberra. It has been 24 yrs since the last time I visited Australia's capital and I thought it was a good time to go back.
My main reason was to see the "Brumbies" play in the qualifying final of the Super Rugby, but I also wanted to do some touristy stuff and catch up with some old friends.
Sadly the Brumbies were beaten 15 -9 Robbed with a couple of bad refereeing decisions (in my opinin )
However the next day I went to the 'Australian War Memorial'. Its name kind of tells you the story. It also has a fantastic museum attatched.

The War memorial.

Looking down Anzac parade, from the front steps.

On either side of Anzac parade are individual memorials to the various Armed services and major wars, and the Kemal Attaturk memorial gardens. You can see in the distance (middle) the old Parliament House and the New Parliament House (the one half buried in the hill with the massive flag on it)

Engraved Mess tins from WW1

I apologise for the quality of some of the photo's, it is partially my lack of skills, poor lighting and how some of the pieces are displayed.
The focus of the museum is WW1 at the moment for the 100yr anniversary.
I was hoping for a better display of rations (past and present) but what show is all there was.

The only actual rations on display. A piece of hard tack and a tin of apricot jam.

A nice story from the Gallipoli campaign

Some of the diggers equipment. (Slightly ration related)

I am off to lunch now, will be back with some more stuff later
Yowie

[Yowie]

Part two.

An interesting display of German Erzatz products, including boots, coffee, tea and tobacco.

There are more German planes in Anzac hall, than Australian ones....

BF 109G

Me 262 (the first one I have ever seen)

I learnt a lesson here. don't touch the planes. A proximity alarm went off and I hid behind a pillar for a while

Me 163 Komet.

Both these are awful photo's due too lighting and compostion, but because of where they are displayed its the best angles you can get. Anzac hall seems to have everything hidden behind pillars.
And the best of all. 'Mephisto', the worlds rarest tank

Mephisto, is the only surviving A7V tank left in the world.

Stolen by Queensland troop in 1919 (literally, they captured it then smuggled it onto there ship home) Mephisto usually lives in the Queensland museum, but has been lent to the War memorial for the WW1display. Apparently the German government asked for it back a few years ago, but were told to sod off. The Queensland govt then generously allowed a representation to come over and take measurements so a replica could be built. They were watched the whole time so 'Mephisto' would not disappear (they can be a bit weird in Queensland).

Side view, notice how it is cunningly hidden behind another pillar, so you can't get a decent full profile. :-/

Rear view

Other side.

If you look closely you can see the damage from a bomb through the hatch, I didn't want to get closer for a better view, because of alarms again. I am sure they were watching me by then
And finally.....

Me in front of the Australian High Court. And here I thought I would only ever be dragged in here in handcuffs :)

Yowie

[housil]

First of all - great pictures! I like to see "insiders" from the other side of the world!

, and the Kemal Attaturk memorial gardens.

Has Australia any relations/connections to him? (If Erdogan figures that out - you are doomed... )

Me 262 (the first one I have ever seen)

Nice to see "our" equipment mad it´s way also to Australia
The place I work is next to an Airfield where the ME262 was stationed.
Hitler visiting the Airfield in 1936:

airfield_giebelstadt_6.jpg (13.88 KiB) Viewed 11291 times

[Yowie]

@ Housil. Thanks mate it's always good to hear from you.
To answer your question. The ANZAC campaign of 1915 at Gallipoli was a beginning of Australian and New Zealand mythology of arms. The invasion fought against the Turks was our first real war.ANZAC day (April 25th the day of the landings) is now the day when we remember all our fallen in any war. And the Turks beat us ( quite badly). We are a little strange. Kemal Attaturk found fame fighting against us. Like the Afrika Corp at Tobruk against the Australian 9th division (the original Rats of Tobruk ) it was 'war without hate '.
Attaturk quoted after the war
"Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours... You the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."
This is engraved a the memorial.
The connection is sad but real.
Australians dont tend to hold grudges
Erdogan doesn't like it he will have to put up with it.

[parafireboy]

Great pics Yowie, thanks for sharing!

[Name_not_found]

Great pics!!

Thanks for sharing mate


Sorry your team lost

[steve1989]

Wow - look at Mephisto.. last one left. That had to have been kinda surreal to look at. Yowie, thank you for sharing - this is awesome! And the old tobacco and teas.. that is really cool & rare stuff there. Your pictures are awesome - thanks so much for sharing them of your trip!

[Norton]

Yowie, sorry to be so late in posting.
Man I think the pictures are fine. I have been very interested in WW 1 Armour since I was a kid. I have never seen a real AV 7 even on the web. I am Glad the Diggers saved her. If not she would have been melted down in 1920 or so. Very cool camouflage and markings.
I like the ME 262 Swab and Crazy little ME 163 Komet. You have to have some guts to fly that machine.
Do you guys have a CAC Boomerang fighter, made in NZ Charlton automatic rifle or made in Australia Sentinel tank ?
Like the Owen Gun and ASTEN, both cool. I like made in country equipment, it's interesting to see what was built on short order.
Thanks for taking the time to post.
Cheers Bro

[Yowie]

Thanks guys.
@Norton yeah that Komet looks like a widow maker. There were not many weapons on display. A German WW1 anti - tank rifle a brew gun and standard rifles. I think there was an Owen gun in the Darwin museum. I have always liked the Owen, they were still in use during Vietnam. I am also pretty sure there is a CAC Wirraway flying at the Temora air museum. That's not so far from here either. It is my next planned road trip. They only 'Australian ' built aircraft I saw was a CAC Sabre, built here but clearly not designed. (Avon engine and 20mm cannon instead of 50's).
@ Steve. The whole day felt a bit surreal. The memorial hall has all the fallen listed and was quite emotional. Mephisto was awesome. I don't know how they fit 18 crew in though.

[BlackDogBob]

Wow! Thanks so much for sharing brother. That must have been a great trip. I really enjoyed the photos.