Westbury Remembrance Day 2025

Remembrance Day in Australia, observed on 11 November each year, honours the men and women who have died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. It marks the armistice that ended World War I in 1918. At 11 a.m., Australians observe one minute’s silence to remember those who served and sacrificed for the nation’s freedom. Red poppies are worn as symbols of remembrance, inspired by the poem In Flanders Fields. Ceremonies are held across the country, including at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, where wreaths are laid and tributes paid to all who gave their lives in service.

 

During World War I (1914–1918), Australia suffered extremely heavy losses relative to its small population.

  • Australian casualties:
    Around 416,809 Australians enlisted for service. Of these, approximately
    • 61,720 were killed (including those who died from wounds or disease), and
    • 156,000 were wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner.
  • Population at the time:
    Australia’s population in 1914 was about 4.9 million people.

That means almost 39% of eligible men enlisted, and over 60,000 deaths represented one of the highest per-capita casualty rates of any nation in World War I.