Sydney Kinsman remembered at Alice Springs’ Anzac Day services

Hundreds marched up Anzac Hill in Alice Springs to commemorate past and present servicemen in the town’s first Anzac Day without World War II veteran Sydney Kinsman.

Hundreds ascended Anzac Hill in Alice Springs’ on Tuesday morning to pay tribute to both past and present troops who have defended the country.

This year was the first Anzac service without the town’s last World War II veteran, local legend Sydney Kinsman, one of Australia’s last living Rats of Tobruk.

Mr Kinsman passed away in June last year, just short of his 101st Birthday.

Enlisting at just 19 years old, Mr Kinsman was taken as a prisoner of war in July 1942 during the Battle of El Alamein in Egypt, escaping to Switzerland in 1943 before being repatriated to Australia the following year.

At the time of his death, he was the Territory’s oldest veteran.

Ben Bruce, grandson of the late Sydney Kinsman, reads the Ode at the Alice Springs Anzac Day service.

In memory of Mr Kinsman, his grandson Ben Bruce read the Ode at the midmorning service at the Anzac Hill Cenotaph in Alice Springs.

It was not the only tribute to the much-loved veteran.

Alice Springs RSL sub-branch president Chris Clarke said an empty seat was left at the Alice Springs Dawn Service in memory of Mr Kinsman.

A seat was left at the Alice Springs dawn service for Sydney Kinsman, the town's last World War II veteran who died last year at 100-years-old.

“On one of the chairs where he usually sits, with approval from his family, we had his poppy knee rug that he normally wears at Dawn Services as well as a framed portrait of Sydney sitting on the chair,” he said.

“Today’s about all veterans, not just Sydney, but it was a way of us trying to keep him included in the service.”

Families watch on during the Alice Springs Anzac Day annual Anzac Day march.

Hundreds lined the Todd Mall to watch the annual Anzac Day march, before ascending Anzac Hill to the Cenotaph to pay their respects.

Master of Ceremonies Warrant Office Class 2 Scott Allen, from Centre Squadron NORFORCE, addressed the crowd, commemorating the more than 100,000 Australians who “put service before self in the ultimate sacrifice”.

“That is why we remember them, the first Anzac’s and all that have followed, they left us a legacy and we in turn commemorate their sacrifice, and we ask ‘what legacy shall we leave behind for those who follow us?” he said.

Hundreds marched up Anzac Hill in Alice Springs for the midmorning service.

“We have not forgotten and we are defined at least in part by the act of remembrance.”

Major Jamie Smith, officer commanding of Centre Squadron NORFORCE, in his commemorative address, remembered the sacrifice of soldiers at Gallipoli on April 25.

“The story of the ANZAC’s is legendary and has formed part of our national identity,” he said.

“In such grim and hopeless circumstances we saw the birth of the Anzac spirit in our young nations.

A crowd gathered at the Anzac Hill Cenotaph in Alice Springs for the Anzac Day mid-morning service.

“Their example has inspired us since then, through the rest of what became known as the First World War, during the dark days of the second World War and through the many conflicts since then, through Vietnam, East Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan and many peacekeeping missions.”

He described how the Anzac spirit had been on display when the world was “paralysed” during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“During these difficult days we needed the same courage and resilience, we needed a sense of mateship which was felt through video calls unlike the trenches of Gallipoli or on the Western Front while huddled together in abysmal conditions,” he said.

Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson lays a wreath at the Anzac Day Alice Springs' service.

He paid tribute to the ‘great alliance’ with New Zealand, and to members of the military from the United States of America.

“I’ve been very proud to have served alongside our allies of the United States, United Kingdom and Canada in the same way that I am very proud of the Australian soldiers currently training our new allies in Ukraine,” he said.

Alice Springs RSL sub-branch president Chris Clark, left, reminded the public Anzac Day was a commemoration, not a celebration.

Alice Springs RSL sub-branch president Chris Clarke said Anzac Day was a day of commemoration, not celebration.

“It’s a way of remembering our past and looking forward to the future,” he said.

He said the day would continue on to the Alice Springs golf club for a “bit of a barbecue and a bit of two-up”.

“I’ll have a few coffees to keep me awake, my day started at 3am this morning and I was up until 1am last night, but it’s all worked out and it’s been a very good day.”