This year, they are not in the position to participate in the Service due to lack of numbers of those able to attend. Such a shame that this tradition of many years has fallen apart.

However, our Church has lined up a very special speaker in Pastor Peter Thomas from Capernwray Torchbearers at Moss Vale. Peter’s father, Major Ian Thomas, was the founder of Capernwray and fought in many battles in WW2 including the evacuation at Dunkirk, North Africa and was landed at Anzio in Italy.

His most notable experience was at Monte Casino, where he actually took the German surrender at this battle and the white tablecloth used by the Germans to surrender is on display in the Tower of London with a citation to this effect.

Our congregation, was loathe to let the Anzac Service go due to the fact that Mittagong Sub Branch could not attend in an official capacity, so we have decided to run a scaled down service on Sunday and have extended an invitation to any that wish to attend from the Sub Branch as well as the general public. The church extends an invitation to anyone who would like to attend in honour of our servicemen and women.

Medals can be worn by any service person or their relatives if they so desire. The service will be at 10.30am with a morning tea after the service. The church is located at 256 Old Hume Hwy, Mittagong.

The Bowral RSL Sub Branch will take part in a church service at St Jude’s Anglican Church in Bowral from 10am on April 22. The sub branch members will then visitBowral House Nursing Home at 2pm on April 22 where, under the command of sub branch member Gordon Hopkins and sub branch Padre Hugh Scott, a an Anzac memorial service will be held. Another memorial service will be held at Harbison Nursing Home at 3pm on April 23.