Captain Jason Sears of the Royal Australian Navy (who so happens to be a Kempsey boy) travelled up to give the commemorative address, which honoured Bernard Joseph McKenna, a young man from Bowraville who served as a soldier in the 34^th Battalion of the 1^st Australian Imperial Force.

Watch his speech in full and the commemoration proceedings here:

“On this day, 100 years ago, a young man from Bowraville lay dying in France...Bernard was 24 years and 10 months old and working as a farmer when he joined the army in April, 1916,” he said.

His battalion fought in some of the Australian troops’ most bloody battles during that war, including the Battle of Messines in June 1917, and the Battle of Passchendaele in October of the same year.

“[The 34th] suffered dreadfully in the horrible, muddy, quagmire, with a heavy casualty rate, and over half the battalion was either killed or wounded for limited gains,” Capt Sears said.

After a short reprieve, the 34^th was once again moved to the frontline in Villers-Bretonneux just when the Germans launched their major offensive.

In August, 1918, the 34^th participated in the the Allied forces’ 100-day offensive which ultimately brought about the end of the war.

“Worn out by the terrible conditions and constant fighting, Private Bernard McKenna came down with influenza and was admitted to the field ambulance on 6 November, 1918. Yesterday, 100 years ago, his condition had deteriorated further and he was reported dangerously ill, suffering bronchial pneumonia,” Capt Sears said.

Four days later he passed away.

“I guess it was a blessing the Bernard survived long enough to see peace. Yet I can’t help but imagine the terrible pain that his parents and eight brothers and sisters...must have felt when they learned of his death, coming after so much fighting,” he said.

Here’s a gallery of how the Nambucca marked the occasion:

Today, at exactly 11am, the Nambucca Valley community stopped to hear the victory bells peal to mark 100 years since they first rang out to mark the end of four senseless years of bloodshed.

Each person in attendance received a beautifully-produced commemorative program by local historian Carrolline Rhodes which featured photographs of those who had marched in a recruitment parade over a century ago – the same route our servicemen and women walked again today.

Watch today’s march here:

It was a touching ceremony only slightly marred by the AWOL RAAF, who failed to make an appearance for their scheduled fly-past.

No doubt the day – and its reminiscing – has only just begun for many in attendance.