Opposition leader Peter Dutton says Anzac Day one of ‘most significant, solemn and sacred’ dates
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has recounted the stories of two veterans in his message of remembrance this Anzac Day.
Mr Dutton singled out two men among so many who made victories in World War Two possible: Australians John Holmes and Thomas Derrick.
He honoured Brisbane-born Holmes, who enlisted in the air force and embarked on two tours of duty but died ages 23 on his 44th straight mission when his Lancaster bomber was hit by enemy fire.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“A world away, Thomas Derrick was preparing for his next deployment,” Mr Dutton said.
“The South Australian was a seasoned and decorated soldier. He’d been a Rat of Tobruk. He’d displayed gallantry in running through a barrage of grenades in Egypt and he’d received the Victoria Cross for clearing ten Japanese machine-gun posts in Papua New Guinea.”
On May 1, 1945, he landed at Tarakan – part of the Australian-led campaign to liberate Borneo from Imperial Japanese forces.
Twenty-two days after the landing, the platoon was attacked and, after a burst of machine-gun fire, when Derrick sat up to check on his men, was hit by a second burst and died from his wounds the next day.
Because of those sacrifices Mr Dutton said April 25 was “one of the most significant, solemn and sacred days” on the national calendar with this Anzac Day especially poignant marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
“That global conflagration engulfed almost every continent and almost every country,” he said.
“Barely a city or town, a suburb or street, a community or citizen was unscathed in some way by the catastrophe of that all-encompassing conflict.
“For six years, free peoples endured the darkest of hours – and fought and fell in the field of battle – to defeat the German war machine and the forces of Imperial Japan.
“We honour the 39,000 Australians who gave their lives. They experienced the horror of war to defeat tyranny and restore peace.
“As the custodians of that peace, it’s our duty to deter tyranny and prevent catastrophic war.
“In that duty, may we never waver in effort, energy and endeavour – spurred on by the souls we commemorate on Anzac Day.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will attend a dawn service in Canberra, while Mr Dutton attends a service in his home seat of Dickson.
