What Anzac Day is like for our Australian soldiers deployed overseas

Warrant Officer Class One Jason Moriarty served in Tamworth as the a Regimental Sergeant Major with the 12/16 Hunter River Lancers, but is now deployed in northern Baghdad, training the Iraqi army with Task Group Taji.

He said for soldiers serving overseas, Anzac Day is deeply personal, with many reflecting on the lives lost in recent conflicts in places such as Afghanistan and East Timor.

“We always reflect on the sacrifices of our fore fathers, but for those on deployment, we tend to reflect on a far narrower approach,” WO1 Moriarty told The Leader, speaking from his base in Iraq.

“They reflect on their mates and pause to remember not just fallen or lost, but the others who haven’t returned the same as left.”

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“We also reflect on the sacrifices our families make, which is often not clearly articulated or understood.

“Over here, we know what we are doing that day, and we know that we are safe.

“But our family and our loved ones do not, and there is a lot of apprehension and anxiety built into that. They don't know we aren't in danger and can only assume we are.”

The Anzac Day proceedings for deployed soldiers is very similar to their colleagues back home.

“We’ll start with a gunfire breakfast, but with coffee, no alcohol,” WO1 Moriarty said.

“Then we have our dawn service, followed by breakfast. We have two-up during the day and we have a footy match between Australia and New Zealand to raise money for charity.”

It's not just the Aussies and the Kiwis commemorating  Anzac Day either.

“We work hand in hand with the United Kingdom contingent and obviously there is a large number of Americans,” WO1 Moriarty said.

“They all come and commemorate with us, it's very much a coalition feel. Ultimately we are all soldiers, regardless of what army we are from.”

WO1 Moriarty has been in the army for close to 25 years and said Tamworth’s Anzac Day services were second to none.

“In fact two of the most memorial Anzac Days are the ones I spent at Tamworth,” he said.

“It’s amazing. They get huge crowds at Anzac Park and its certainly growing in statue year by year.”