Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux, France

On Tuesday April 25, representatives of the Thales Veterans Committee attended the Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux, France.

The Australian National Memorial, located behind the Villers-Bretonneux military cemetery, pays tribute to Australian soldiers who fought in France and Belgium, and who rest under the battlefields. The Memorial commemorates the 10,719 Australian dead who died in France and have no known grave.

Mark Hilton, VP Digital Systems and Executive Sponsor of the Thales Veterans Committee, Nick de Bont, Chief Security Officer and Chair of the Veterans Committee and Andy Kirkpatrick, Sales Director Digital Systems attended the service and were all moved by the ceremony.

Standing here in such a special place, it’s hard not to reflect on the sacrifice so many Australians and New Zealanders have made on the battlefields of France. On ANZAC Day, we recognize this legacy and the legacy of all our veterans and thank them for the contributions they have made and continue to make to our community Mark Hilton, Vice President of Digital Systems and Executive Sponsor of the Committee of veterans of Thales Australia.

Following the Anzac Day dawn service, a service was held in the town square of Villers-Bretonneux, with those in attendance including the Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite, Deputy Minister of Defense and Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, Chief of the Navy, and Her Excellency Mrs. Gillian Bird, Australian Ambassador to France.

While Mark, Nick and Andy represented the Thales Australia Veterans Committee, they were also on hand to support the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay. Legacy’s milestone was spoken about during the Dawn Service, with the speaker noting the enduring support and care provided by Legacy to veterans and their families.

If you would like to learn more about our commitment to veterans and their families, please visit our website here.