ANZAC, twice

Today was a big day. London Marathon, St Georges Day and also ANZAC Day.
My concentration was on commemorating ANZAC day and the thousands of Australian and New Zealand troops that were killed, particularly at Gallipoli in WW1 but also in all conflicts. They were involved in Vietnam too of course, not everyone is aware of that.
Started off at 11:00 at Gloucester War Memorial, pictures of my bike with both flags, and another of me and my fellow bikers (but bike-less recently) Phil and Julie. Julie plays the bugle and is very proficient at the Last Post and Reveille.
I then went down to the village of Leighterton where we go every year. Unfortunately I was the only rider to attend, usually there is at least half a dozen. Don't know if it was the weather, which was dreadful, or lack of communication.
No photographs of me, so that's lucky, but there were lots of standard bearers, a band to play the music for hymns and the last post etc. Air cadets and dignitaries from the RBL and others representing the armed forces of both Australia and New Zealand.
24 airman lost their lives during flight training at the nearby airfield, they are buried in the cemetery at the village. The children, from the local school, lay sprigs of Rosemary on each grave as the names are called out by two of the older children.
Rosemary has come to signify the losses incurred at Gallipoli because the terrain is covered in that plant.
In all, 252,000 allied troops were lost in those battles of which almost 11,500 were from Australia and New Zealand, 5,000 on the first day. 

Some history at this website. The Flying Kangaroos: Australian Pilot Training in the Cotswolds - Kathryn's history blog (kathrynshistoryblog.com)