Home of the ANZACs
The RSL Albany Sub-Branch is the third oldest in Western Australia, receiving its charter on 17 October 1917.
Albany has a very significant link to the ANZAC heritage as it was in King George Sound, the deep-water outer harbour, that ships carrying Australian and New Zealand troops bound for World War One gathered to form two convoys, sailing on 1 November and 31 December 1914 for Alexandria, Egypt to disembark troops for acclimatization and operational training before again embarking to eventually wade ashore on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 25 April 1915.
The ‘ANZAC’ legend was born…
“They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
- For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon