ANZAC Day: A veteran’s message of peace

A veteran who proudly served in the Australian Army for over two decades says ANZAC day should be a reminder of the need for peace.

A veteran who proudly served in the Australian Army for over two decades says ANZAC day should be a reminder of the need for peace.

RSL Life Care El Alamein Village resident Brian Gosman, 90, joined the Army in 1951 where he served for 21 years earning the rank of Major.

During his military career he was stationed in Victoria, South Australia, the ACT, NSW, Queensland and was deployed in Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam.

He was among the residents of El Alamein Village in Lyneham who marked ANZAC Day early on Friday with a Field of Remembrance Dedication at RSL LifeCare ‘Sir Leslie Morshead Manor’.

There were several VIPs in attendance at the event, including Canberra MP Alicia Payne and ACT Senator Zed Seselja.

Brian Gosman served in the Army for 21 years and says ANZAC Day should remind Australians to strive for peace. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Service to his fellow Australians was a core pillar of Mr Gosman’s military career and his civilian career at the South Australian Public Service.

“I enjoyed both my military career and my public service career,” he said.

“It gave me the ability to help people out.”

Mr Gosman said Anzac Day brings up memories of fallen friends.

“I think about people I knew,” he said.

“I had a quite good friend who was killed in Vietnam.

“Another friend of mine was killed in Malaysia, My father in law was a World War One veteran, he wasn’t at Gallipoli but he fought in the Somme.

“I think of them mostly in this period.”

He said reflecting on ANZAC Day should serve as a reminder of the need for peace.

“War is not very nice,” he said.

“It leaves a lot of people who survive but they’re mentally and physically in bad shape.

“I did over 20 years in the army, and I’d do it again, but war isn’t a pretty thing.”