ANZAC

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

From: “For the Fallen” by Laurence Binyon (1869-1943) Also known as the “Ode to Remembrance”.

Click to enlarge.

Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose soldiers were known as Anzacs. Anzac Day remains one of the most important national occasions of both Australia and New Zealand and is held as a national day of remembrance on April 25 every year.

While ANZAC day focuses on ANZAC Cove on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey, ANZAC day has come to commemorate more broadly those who fell in both World Wars and in more recent conflicts. It also importantly serves to remember those who participated in any sphere, in any of those conflicts and have passed on since completing their service.

Some of the Pitcairners above, to whom this issue is dedicated:
A. Wilfred Warren - B. Vincent Young - C. Floyd McCoy -
D. Robert Young E. Walma Warren - F. Colin Warren -
G. Ray Young
Click any photo to enlarge.

The importance now placed on ANZAC Day (known as Remembrance Day in the UK and commemorated on the second Sunday in November), has grown phenomenally worldwide, including in the Pitcairn Islands. Other countries that hold ceremonies include Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK, Thailand, Germany, France, USA, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Ireland, Turkey, PNG and the Pacific countries – French Polynesia, Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tonga.

Pitcairn has adopted the Pacific commemorative date and name and each year the community meets in the Adamstown Square at dawn to pay respects to those who have passed on. Wreaths are laid, flags flown and speeches made. With Walma Warren, the last surviving Pitcairner who served in WWII passing on in 2009, the Pitcairn Islanders believe it is timely to commemorate this important service with a stamp issue naming all those Pitcairners who served.

ANZAC
Please Note: All prices are in New Zealand Dollars

Single set		$7.30
First Day Cover with 4 stamps		$8.80

Technical Details

Designer:	Denise Durkin, Wellington, New Zealand www.illustrationwish.co.nz	Pitcairn Stamps proudly brought to you by:
Printer:	Southern Colour Print, Dunedin, New Zealand
Process:	Offset Litho
Stamp size:	48.0 mm x 27.14mm horizontal
Sheet Format:	Two panes of 20 stamps per sheet with gutter
Perforation Gauge:	14.58 x 14.00mm
Denominations:	50c; $1.00; $1.80 and $4.00
Paper:	104gsm Tullis non phosphor gummed paper
Period of Sale:	23 April 2010 for a period of 2 years

Acknowledgement: The Pitcairn Islands Philatelic Bureau would like to acknowledge the invaluable help of the National Army Museum, Waiouru, New Zealand and the Pitcairn Islanders.