“Every man who had served on Gallipoli wore a blue ribbon on the right breast, and every man who in addition had taken part in the historic landing on April 25th, 1915, wore a red ribbon also,” Monash wrote home. “Alas, how few of us are left, who were entitled to wear both.”
There was a “short but very dignified” service, a chaplain’s address and the Last Post from the massed buglers. The bands of the brigade played The Dead March in Saul as the parade stood to attention. Then the rest of the day was a holiday.
It was the first Anzac Day.
ON THIS DAY in 1915 the Royal Australian Navy submarine AE2 (Lieutenant Commander H.H.D. Stoker) became the first Allied vessel to successful penetrate the Dardanelles and enter the Sea of Marmara where she was ordered to ‘run amok’ in support of the Gallipoli landings. On 30 April, while on patrol within the inland sea, she was detected and attacked by the Turkish torpedo boat Sultan Hissar.
AE2 immediately dived but lost trim, broaching the surface twice. The submarine was consequently hit by shell fire from Sultan Hissar in the vicinity of the engine room. With the pressure hull breached, Lieutenant Commander Stoker had little choice other than to order his crew to scuttle the vessel and abandon ship. All became prisoners of war with four dying in captivity. In recognition of his bravery, leadership and daring Lieutenant Commander Stoker was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.
