Corner figures

Four standing figures adorn the highest corners of the Anzac Memorial building. They represent each of the four branches of Australian service during the Great War: the naval commander represents the Royal Australian Navy (facing south-east); the infantry lieutenant the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force (facing north-east), the matron the Australian Army Nursing Service (facing north-west); and the air force officer the Australian Flying Corps (facing south-west)

Air Force Officer

Infantry Lieutenant

Matron

Naval Commander

Find out more about how the Memorial came to be

On this day

5 December

— 1939

First official RAAF operation of WW2 when 10 Squadron flew with RAF Coastal Command against U-Boats in the Atlantic

— 1940

NIMBIN sank with the loss of 7 lives after hitting a German mine off NORAH HEAD, New South Wales

— 1941

Flt Lt C R CALDWELL shot down five Ju-87 (Stuka) dive bombers. For this feat he was awarded a second DFC. During the War, Caldwell was also awarded a DSO, and a Cross of Valour by the Polish Government

— 1950

HMA Ships BATAAN and WARRAMUNGA assisted in the evacuation of CHINNAMPO, the port city for PYONGYANG, Korea, which was under threat from Chinese soldiers. This involved hazardous night-time operations in very shallow water