As a mark of respect for the men and women who have fought and died in war, ancestry website Genes Reunited has created a Memory Bank of its members' family reminiscences of war time on the site to mark this Anzac Day.
Hundreds of members responded to the invitation to remember their relatives who landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey early that morning in 1915 and all others who lived through wartime. A dedicated section of the website displays their stories along with treasured photographs, letters and poems.
Vicki Dawson, Head of Genes Reunited Australia, says: "As there are no surviving Anzac veterans, the importance of preserving their stories is paramount. We wanted to offer our members the opportunity to reflect on the past and many have written in to tell us of their personal discoveries. Their stories are wonderfully touching and serve as an important reminder lest we forget."
Genes Reunited member, Brad Walsh, from Brisbane, QLD, recalled the story of his grandfather, Sergeant William Albert Hitchenor, who served in both the Dardanelles and on the Western Front in WW1. He was injured on five occasions and earned the Military Medal D.R.C.
Brad said, "I am very proud of my Granddad being an ANZAC. He was very humble about his bravery and what happened to him during that period. I feel this Memory Bank is very important for future generations to let them know the bravery of our soldiers and the comradeship that was created during these events that lasts a lifetime."
Fellow member, Ron Pitt from Merriwa, WA, remembers with pride his uncle, Norman Wright, who fought in the First World War on the Western Front
Ron said, "My uncle was awarded a medal for bravery during his voyage overseas for saving the life of a comrade who fell overboard. Sadly he was killed in action on the 4th October 1917 in the Third Battle of Ypres during the assault on Broodseinde Ridge. His body was never found and his name is recorded on the Menin Gate Memorial at Leper."
Read both Brad and Ron’s stories in detail and those of other members on Genes Reunited by clicking onto the memory bank at http://www.genesreunited.com.au/genesreunited.asp?wci=grstatic&type=anzacday2 or www.genesreunited.com.au then follow the link to the memory bank
Ends
For case studies or to receive more information about Genes Reunited please contact
Vicki Dawson on (02) 9836 3587 or email vdawson@friendsreunited.com
Additional case studies from Australia and New Zealand are available, many with old photos and documents.
How does it work and what does it cost?
Members first have to register, which is free of charge, by entering their personal email address and password. This then allows them to:
Similarly to Friends Reunited, members can then choose to upgrade to full membership for the current six-month fee of $19.95.
This then allows them to:
How to build a family tree?
How to search for potential relations?