Sydney Marches to Remember
With their white, starched uniforms and red crosses on their foreheads, 2000 members of the Junior Red Cross make a startling presence at the eleventh anniversary of Anzac Day in Sydney.
Year: 25 April, 1926
Production Company: Australasian Gazette
Source: National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
Catalogue Reference: NFSA title: 60782
Location: Sydney, Australia
The United Commemoration Service for the eleventh anniversary of Anzac Day in Sydney City, 1926 included a march through the streets from Macquarie Place, via Pitt Street, Bathurst Street and George Street to Sydney Town Hall. The Navy brass band leads the march, followed by naval and military detachments, then the Police Band and 200 returned soldier members of the police force. Some men are wearing medals on the left, indicating their military service.
Nine days after the start of World War I a branch of the British Red Cross was established in Australia by Lady Helen Munro Ferguson. The British Red Cross Australian Branch changed its name to the Australian Red Cross Society and was incorporated by royal charter on 28 June 1941.
The Red Cross grew significantly during the Great War and the legacy of the organisation is captured by this footage. The white dresses and tunics provide an overall impression of a uniform, but the varying styles, along with crosses of different sizes on the caps, indicate that many of these uniforms were likely to have been homemade. Also notable is the rosemary pinned to some of the girls’ dresses. Lady Enid de Chair was the president of the NSW Red Cross Society and Lady Sydney Stonehaven was its national president.
The Sun reported the march on 24 April 1926 as a celebration of ‘the 11th anniversary of the landing of the Australian troops on Gallipolli (Anzac Day)’. Nowadays the use of ‘celebration’ is considered contentious and ‘commemoration’ is considered the more appropriate term.
Sydney Marches to Remember
Intertitle: Memories. Eleventh anniversary of Anzac Day is observed with pride and sorrow
Intertitle: The Procession to the Town Hall for the United Commemoration Service
Braqss band marching
Brass band marching
Intertitle: The Governor General, Lord Stonehaven, is met by the State Governor, Sir Dudley de Chair, and General Bruche, State Commandant
Intertitle: 2000 members of Junior Red Cross march to Government House
Brass band marching, followed by Junior Red Cross members
Junior Red Cross members marching
Intertitle: Lady de Chair leads the singing of hymns
Lady de Chair leading the singing of hymns
Junior Red Cross members singing hymns
Junior Red Cross members leaving