Australia 2000 Legends - The Last Anzacs

From Stamps of the World
Australia 2000 Legends - The Last Anzacs stamp a.jpg
  • Issue Date: 21 January 2000
  • Designed by: Cathleen Cram
  • Printed by: SNP Ausprint
  • Print Process: Lithography
  • Stamp Size: 37.5 mm x 26 mm
  • Withdrawal date: 31 January 2001


Description

The fourth stamp issue in the Australian Legends series pays tribute to the last Anzacs. Roy Longmore, Walter Parker and Alec Campbell were, on the date of issue, the last surviving Australian soldiers who fought at Gallipoli, where the Anzac tradition was born. These three men were there at the dawn of the Anzac spirit. This stamp issue honours them as individuals, and as representatives of all the men whose feats at Gallipoli live forever in Australia’s self-image. Although all the Legends fought at Gallipoli none came ashore on 25 April 1915.

Gallipoli is seen as a defining moment in the emergence of the Australian nation. Around 50,000 Australians went to Gallipoli and 8,700 were killed there. The term Anzac stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.


Stamps

Sheet Stamps

  • Perforations: 14 x 14½
  • Format: sheets of 50 (two panes of 25 separated by a gutter with a printed design)

45c Walter Parker Stamp

Born on 11 August 1894 in Sydney, Walter was an apprentice commercial art printer when he enlisted at twenty years of age. Reaching Gallipoli with the 20th Battalion, 4th Reinforcements in November 1915, Walter carried vital ammunition and life-saving water through the maze of muddy trenches to the troops fighting at the front. After evacuation from Gallipoli, he fought in France until being shot in the arm at Pozières after which he was invalided to England.

He received France's Legion of Honour (Legion d'Honneur) medal in 1998, and in 1999 he received the 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal. Walter died on 22 January, the day after the stamps were issued.

45c Walter Parker

45c Roy Longmore Stamp

Born on 29 April 1894 in Geelong, Roy enlisted as a twenty-one year-old farm hand. Trained in Egypt, Roy went straight to Gallipoli where he was made a tunnel digger, burrowing under the Ottoman positions and laying mines. After evacuation from Gallipoli he fought in France at Pozières, Armentières and Villers-Bretonneux. Towards the later part of the war he was wounded in both legs.

Roy Longmore received France’s highest honour, the Legion of Honour (Legion d'Honneur) medal, in 1998 and in 1999 was presented with the 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal.

45c Roy Longmore

45c Alec Campbell Stamp

Born on 26 February 1899 in Launceston, Tasmania, Alec enlisted at sixteen and trained in Egypt before sailing with the 15th Battalion for Gallipoli. He fought in the trenches for several months where he received a minor wound. After leaving Gallipoli in the general evacuation, Campbell became ill and was invalided home.

Between the wars he became a state president of the Australian Railways Union. After the Second World War, he gained an economics degree and worked in the Department of Labour and National Service. He was an accomplished boat-builder, and sailed in seven Sydney-Hobart yacht races in the race's early years. In 1999 Alec was presented with the 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal.

45c Alec Campbell

45c 1914–15 Star Stamp

The fourth stamp features the 1914-15 Star which was awarded to all men who fought in campaigns in 1914 and 1915, including all those who fought at Gallipoli. Each of the legends has also been awarded the Star. The medal, sanctioned in 1918, is a four-pointed star in bright bronze with the words 1914-15 on the centre scroll.

45c 1914–15 Star

Se-tenant Block

Se-tenant block of 4 x 45c

Gutter Strip

Printed in the gutter strip are the letters ANZAC, extracted from the cover design of The Anzac Book, written and illustrated in Gallipoli by the Men of Anzac, published by Cassell and Company Ltd, London, 1916.

Gutter strip of 10 x 45c plus 5 labels

Self-adhesive Stamps

  • Perforations: serpentine die cut 11¾
  • Format: booklets of 10

Single Stamps

45c Walter Parker
45c Roy Longmore
45c Alec Campbell
45c 1914–15 Star


Booklet

$4.50 booklet cover
Booklet pane of 10 x 45c

First Day Covers

The first day of issue postmark was Canberra GPO ACT 2600. An official first day cover for the self-adhesive varieties was not produced. The postal numismatic cover includes a 2000 $1 aluminium bronze Anzac coin struck by the Royal Australian Mint.

First day cover - sheet stamps
Postal numismatic cover - sheet stamps

Maximum Cards

45c Walter Parker maximum card
45c Roy Longmore maximum card
45c Alec Campbell maximum card
45c 1914–15 Star maximum card


Presentation Pack

Presentation pack front cover
Presentation pack - se-tenant block of 4 x 45c