Relieving The Sentries

Through many times of the year, the War Memorial is a place where wreaths are placed and ceremonies held. On the day I took this first shot, a number of veterans who had formed motorbiker groups had come to the Memorial to place wreaths and say a few words. Sentries and officers were at attention, and a number of the public looked on.

On the day that I took the rest of these shots, it was the anniversary in August of the end of the Second World War in the Pacific, so wreathes had been placed up on the Memorial steps, and flowers adorned the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier.

Once an hour, the sentries are relieved. There is a ritual taking place each time, with the new guard marching up onto the Memorial grounds to the accompaniment of a bagpiper.

The new sentries join their counterparts at either side of the Memorial while the senior officer with them (actually a senior non-commissioned officer in this case) recites their responsibilities. The servicemen you see in these shots were from armoured units out in the West, taking part as many soldiers, sailors, and airmen from across the services do from April through November here.

With the new guard in place, the old guard march off.

They join the bagpiper, who leads the way.

And this group heads back away from the Memorial. They have space not far away, down below Plaza Bridge, where sentries can rest, relax, and get something to drink. It's likely that these sentries will take other shifts before the day is through.