For the best view of Georgetown, the island’s capital, there is nowhere that can compare with the view from Fort Bedford. More on the view later but it should also be clear from the picture above why Fort Bedford, tasked with defending the capital, is located where it is – half way up Cross Hill, just behind Georgetown. The peak of Cross Hill remains a military site and thus out of bounds. Continue reading “Fort Bedford”
“Fellow Australians, it is my melancholy duty to inform you officially, that in consequence of a persistence by Germany in her invasion of Poland, Great Britain has declared war upon her and that, as a result, Australia is also at war. No harder task can fall to the lot of a democratic leader than to make such an announcement.” Continue reading “World War II at the Australian War Memorial”
The centrepiece of the Australian War Memorial is the absolutely stunning and evocative Hall of Memory, containing the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier. It is located at the far end of the commemorative courtyard, past the Pool of Reflection. Walk straight ahead when you enter the War Memorial. Continue reading “Hall of Memory”
In one of the most blood curdling crimes perpetrated by the Nazis in Riga, on 4 July 1941 (three days after taking control of the city from the Red Army) they herded hundreds of Latvian and Lithuanian Jews into the basement of the Great Choral Synagogue and then burned the building to the ground. Everyone therein perished. Continue reading “Great Choral Synagogue – Memorial”
Prior to 1725 Jews were not permitted to bury their dead in Riga and the closest Jewish cemetery was some 40kms away at Jelgava. Continue reading “Old Jewish Cemetery”
One of my fondest memories of Riga is the half day or so we spent wandering around the Moscow District (Maskavas forštate), also (or rather officially) called Latgale, and in so doing discovering one of the lesser-explored parts of Riga. The Moscow District, Riga’s first suburb outside the walled Old City, dates back to the 14th century though nothing of the medieval period remains to be seen to-day. Continue reading “Take a Walk in the Moscow District”
This memorial is a vote of thanks to the United States for its assistance in World War II. The Memorial’s height and design make it one of Canberra’s best-known and most recognised monuments. Continue reading “Australian-American Memorial – Bugs Bunny”
This memorial, located about 100m from the National Carillon and next to the HMAS Canberra Memorial at the edge of Lake Burley Griffin, commemorates the contribution of the Merchant Navy during World Wars I and II. Continue reading “Merchant Navy Memorial – Fitting Waterside Tribute”
Until 1967 Indigenous Australians did not have the right to vote and were not included in Australia’s census counts.
This effective non-recognition of Indigenous people as Australian citizens was particularly troublesome for the authorities when it came to them serving, or not, in the armed services. Continue reading “Yininmadyemi – Thou Didst Let Fall”
Not least due to its location, Australia’s first and only direct enemy attacks in its history (leaving aside recent terrorist activity) were in World War II – the Japanese bombing of Darwin in the Northern Territory and their attack on Sydney Harbour using midget submarines. Continue reading “M22 and the Japanese Attack on Sydney Harbour”
The Rambling Wombat 