The Anzac troops gave Australia its soul, a crowd of more than 3000, who gathered for the dawn service in Engadine Town Square was told.
And, the sacrifice of a newly-married, young RAAF fighter pilot from Sans Souci was recalled at an Anzac commemoration ceremony overlooking the water at Bundeena on Sunday.
The commemoration address at the Engadine dawn service was given by Corporal Mollie Gray, an Afghanistan veteran serving in operational support, who is also an Australian rugby player and member of the Cronulla Sharks women’s rugby league team.
Corporal Gray said “great events that we hold on to and cherish are not always great for what they achieve or their success, but for the quality of human spirit that they call upon”
“In Australian history, there is no better example of human history than that of the Anzacs,” she said.
”Our Anzacs are all gone now.
“The Australian Imperial Force, to which they belonged, was an instrument of our country’s first great endeavour.
“Their deeds and sacrifice during its course transformed Australia from a collection of disparate states into a true nation that earned the esteem of the world.
“Along the way they established a tradition that gave our nation its soul.”
At the Bundeena commemoration on Sunday, Peter Pool, a returned Vietnam veteran, former president of One Commando Association and senior vice president of Bundeena RSL Sub Branch, dedicated his keynote address to Flight Lieutenant Henry Lacy Smith, 27.
The young airman’s Spitfire was shot down on June 11, 1944, in Northern France, but the wreckage was not found for 66 years.
The Spitfire was part of 453 Squadron, the first Australian squadron to go into action on D-day, June 6, 1944.
It operated from advanced bases in the beachhead providing tactical support for the troops landing on the Normandy beachhead.
Mr Pool said the downed Spitfire was found in November, 2010, “with Henry’s hand in glove on the control”.
He said Lieutenant Lacy had been married just three months when he flew his Spitfire in support of the 9th Parachute Battalion and commandos who had to take and hold Pegasus Bridge, in which many lives were lost.
Mr Pool said he laid a wreath on the young pilot’s grave in Ranville Cemetary, in June last year.
“There is no glory in war,” Mr Pool said. “There is pain, indignity, deprivation of liberty and loss of friends and mates so close.
“There is, however, courage and honour for those who served and stood with you. In the fear of death, they showed courage and valour.”