Anzac Day on 25 April marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for 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, however, the ceremonies and their meanings have changed significantly since 1915.

It is now a National Day of Remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders ‘who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations’ and ‘the contribution and suffering of all those who have served’.

During the First World War there was a large military camp at Cannock Chase which became the base for the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. There was also a prisoner-of-war hospital with 1,000 beds, and both camp and hospital used the Cannock Chase burial ground.

Cannock Chase War Cemetery contains 97 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 73 of them are New Zealanders and it is only right and proper that we appropriately commemorate those individuals and their contributions.

The Stafford Branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) have the privilege of organising and hosting an Anzac Day ‘Drumhead’ Remembrance Service on Sunday, April 26 beginning at 10:45am and everyone is invited.

There will be an opportunity to lay wreaths and individuals should arrive no later than 10:40am.

Visitors should note that the small cemetery car park will only be available to individually invited guests and disabled blue badge holders.

It is therefore an individual responsibility for all other visitors to park in designated Cannock Chase Car Parks and make their way safely, on foot, to the War Grave Cemetery.

The Stafford Branch RBL look forward to hosting you on the day, but would remind everyone that safety is paramount and therefore the ceremony will be managed in accordance with all RBL, War Graves Commission, Health and Safety and Extant COVID regulations. Individuals are reminded that they must be aware of and be in compliance with those regulations.