History is set to come alive next month, with a “never-before-seen” World War I re-enactment.
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Gundagai Flats will be transformed into a battlefield when the region’s 7th Light Horse Troop showcases the infamous trench-warfare soldiers would have faced in France.
The event, Gundagai Remembers, comes amid the final year of the WWI Centenary, with a special military-style parade, drama and entertainment planned for the first weekend in September.
According to organisers, the drama will be a reflection of the Battle of Mont St Quentin.
The conflict was a turning point for the allied forces, with Anzacs crossing the Somme River on the 31st of August 1918 and attacking Mont Saint Quentin – a key German position.
After three days of fighting, the Aussie troops captured the Mount, along with 2600 prisoners. The victory was later described as the most outstanding achievement of the War, but it came at a great cost, with 3000 casualties recorded.
Taking the action from textbooks and archives to the small Riverina town, the weekend-long event will wow crowds, according to troop members Wes Leseberg and Kerrie Stewart.
Residents and visitors can wander through a WWI camp, visit the trenches of the Western Front, and watch the re-enactment as troop members go “over the top” and attack enemy lines.
In addition to a commemoration parade on Saturday morning, the event will include a dinner that night and live music, with Gundagai’s The Mayors of Jackalass playing until 10:30pm.
Gundagai will be transported back to 1918 again on Sunday, September 2, with more battle re-enactments and period-accurate displays.
In addition to these features, children’s entertainment, including face painting, jumping castles and a Velcro wall, will bring further colour and fun to the event.
The weekend has already attracted a number of high-profile guests, with a visit from the Governor General of Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove, who will be in Gundagai on Saturday to view the parade at 10am.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Cootamundra MP Stephanie Cooke are also expected to attend.
