Anzac Day Walton-on-Thames
In 2021. Covid-19 restrictions allowed a small congregation, socially distanced and wearing face coverings, to join a service at St Marys Church Dignitaries in attendance were:
Mr. Bede Corry The High Commissioner for New Zealand
Captain Stephanie Sheldon, representing the Australian Defence Force
Major Paul Cocker form the New Zealand Army
The Mayor of Elmbridge, Cllr Mary Sheldon
In 2020, the planned Anzac Day commemoration was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Rev. Jonny Blair, Vicar of St Mary's Church, Walton-on-Thames held a short service and laid wreaths
Here is a video of the service.
Here are details of our Anzac Day event for 2019.
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Images from Anzac Day in Walton
To view a slideshow of images of the hospital during WWI click HERE. Images courtesy of getsurrey.co.uk
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April 25 is a remembrance day in Australia and New Zealand – the date the ANZACs (Australian & New Zealand Army Corps) first landed to fight the Turks in Gallipoli. An ANZAC Service is held every year at St Mary's Church, with a visit to the New Zealand memorial in the graveyard. In attendance are representatives from the New Zealand High Commission, the New Zealand Defense Force, the Australian Defense Force, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Elmbridge Borough Council, the Royal British Legion, the Walton-on-Thames Trading Alliance and The Rt Worshipful The Mayor of Elmbridge,
Royal British Legion district representatives travel to Walton-on-Thames from many parts of the country to honor the fallen; Romford, Bourne, Hammersmith, Chingford, Ilford, Barkingside, Isleworth, Manor Park, Greater London, Chingford, Carsholton & Wallington, Eastcote as well as representatives of the Surrey County Men and Women's Sections.
Alan Curran, from the Walton and Weybridge branch of the Royal British Legion, said: “The people of Walton had always taken the Kiwis to their hearts and when they could, to their homes - outings, entertainments and all sorts of assistance was readily given. There are 21 New Zealand graves in the Walton cemetery and these are remembered particularly during the Anzac Day service at St Mary’s Church, but they can only be a fraction of those who died from wounds in the hospital. At Brookwood Military Cemetery, there is a large number of New Zealand graves from that war and many of these would have also been patients at the Mount Felix Hospital.”
Mr Curran added: “It is not surprising then that every year since, Walton has remembered Anzac Day and with it, the town’s connection with that distant and beautiful country of New Zealand and those young men who died so very far from home.”
From Get Surrey
Royal British Legion district representatives travel to Walton-on-Thames from many parts of the country to honor the fallen; Romford, Bourne, Hammersmith, Chingford, Ilford, Barkingside, Isleworth, Manor Park, Greater London, Chingford, Carsholton & Wallington, Eastcote as well as representatives of the Surrey County Men and Women's Sections.
Alan Curran, from the Walton and Weybridge branch of the Royal British Legion, said: “The people of Walton had always taken the Kiwis to their hearts and when they could, to their homes - outings, entertainments and all sorts of assistance was readily given. There are 21 New Zealand graves in the Walton cemetery and these are remembered particularly during the Anzac Day service at St Mary’s Church, but they can only be a fraction of those who died from wounds in the hospital. At Brookwood Military Cemetery, there is a large number of New Zealand graves from that war and many of these would have also been patients at the Mount Felix Hospital.”
Mr Curran added: “It is not surprising then that every year since, Walton has remembered Anzac Day and with it, the town’s connection with that distant and beautiful country of New Zealand and those young men who died so very far from home.”
From Get Surrey