The Australian Army Band Orchestra performed at Amiens Cathedral on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. This concert marks the beginning of the commemorations of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) Day for this year.
The first notes of music echoed in the cathedral. The audience, mostly Australians and French, listened solemnly. “It is important for us to play music approaching Anzac Day, to tell our story as Australian soldiers and evoke the spirit of Anzac Day. We must remember the sacrifices of soldiers on this land,” explained Major Douglas Hall. The Australian Army Band conductor performed on April 22, 2026, in Amiens. This event kicks off the commemorations of Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fought during World War I in the Somme.
It is the second consecutive year that this concert is organized in Amiens Cathedral. Major Douglas Hall seems moved, stating, “It represents a significant moment in my career, a chance that few people have.” One of his musicians shared, “My family participated in World War I. It means a lot to be here.” 11,000 Australians died between 1914 and 1918, with some buried in the Somme.
“The Australians contributed to the preservation of this cathedral during the war. There is a flag of their country in one of the chapels. The fact that the army orchestra plays here is a great testament to the friendship between our two countries,” recalled Rollon Mouchel-Blaisot, prefect of the Somme.
The climax of these commemorations will take place at the Australian Memorial of Villers-Bretonneux on April 25. The ceremony will start at 5:30 am in front of 2,500 people. For the first time this year, the French might outnumber Australians in the audience. One thousand Australians are expected, compared to almost double in previous years. This decrease is explained by the organizers due to the increased airfare prices between Australia and France because of fuel prices. “They also fear making a stopover in the Middle East due to the conflict between Iran and neighboring countries,” said Marie Jouhannet, communication manager of the memorial.
Anzac Day partly commemorates the participation of Australians and New Zealanders in the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux in 1918. During this confrontation, the Commonwealth forces halted the German advance. This year’s celebrations also coincide with the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. These commemorations hold such importance on the other side of the planet that April 25 is a public holiday in New Zealand. Jack Gillespie, a soldier, expressed, “This date has a very strong symbolic value for us.”
With Noélie Mésange / FTV
