Australia Post has released its first commemorative stamp to mark the Centenary of the First World War, with more to follow over the next four years.
As a self-governing dominion of the British Empire, Australia was automatically drawn into the conflict, but quickly affirmed its support for the UK.
Australia Post describes itself as “intrinsically linked to the Anzacs”, through its role in delivering letters to troops during the First World War – one of the reasons it has chosen to commemorate the conflict. The stamps will help “tell the story of a conflict which helped to define our country”.
Michael Zsolt of the Australia Post said that he hoped the stamps would “serve as a symbol of our appreciation of those who made the ultimate sacrifice”.
Each of the five stamps has been developed in consultation with the Australian War Memorial. The Director of the AWM, Dr. Brendan Nelson, described the stamps as “a brilliant visual representation of Australia’s involvement in World War One, but more importantly, each tells a significant story that we can learn from and be proud of”.
The five domestic base-rate (70c) stamps are:
War Declared! – Volunteers queuing to enlist in Sydney
Australians in Action – The seizure of German New Guinea – the first action in which Australians were involved.
Troops Depart – The enthusiasm of new recruits as they departed for Europe
Training Mena Camp – Australians with a mascot at Egypt’s Mena Camp
Our Boys – Three unknown soldiers in a studio portrait, representing the tens of thousands of young men who fought in a war half a world away
Source: Australia Post
Images courtesy of Australia Post
Posted by: Daniel Barry, Centenary News