ANZAC Day commemorated at Amman Citadel

AMMAN — The Australian Embassy on Tuesday hosted a dawn service at the Amman Citadel to commemorate the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I, known as ANZAC Day. 

The service was attended by HH Prince Mired, Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne. The Australian Ambassador Miles Armitage said it was an honour to be commemorating ANZAC Day in Jordan. 

“This year marks the 102nd anniversary of the Australian and New Zealand forces’ landing at Gallipoli. It is a solemn and important occasion for Australians.  The Amman Citadel is a fitting backdrop for this very moving service of remembrance," a statement from the embassy quoted the ambassador as saying.

For the Centenary of the First World War, Australia commemorates ANZAC — 100 years, to remember not only the original ANZACs who served at Gallipoli, the Western Front and Palestine but also to commemorate more than a century of service by Australian servicemen and women. 

Between 2014 and 2018, "we also acknowledge the strong historical bonds existing between Australia and Jordan", the embassy statement said. "Our forbearers fought together in the Great Arab Revolt of the First World War and Australians and Jordanians have continued to serve together on military operations in East Timor, Afghanistan and most recently as part of the International Coalition against Daesh," the embassy statement added.