The Memorial: Beyond The Anzac Legend

Using the War Memorials weapons, artefacts and letters, Neil retraces the story of soldier Private Thomas Anderson Whyte - a champion rower who was among the first wave of soldiers during the historic Landing of Gallipoli, on April 25, 1915. Neil attends his first Anzac Day Dawn Service and grapples with separating myth from legend as he interviews well known Australians about the Landing and whether this first "thunderclap" of war signalled the birth of a young nation. Neil investigates the history of the Unknown Soldier and learns that there may be a possible link between his burial at Adelaide Cemetery in France and another Australian soldier named Harry Whiting. As this intriguing story unfolds, Neil makes a remarkable discovery.

Neil Oliver goes behind the scenes at The Australian War Memorial, as its dedicated staff prepare for the commemoration of Remembrance Day. In the lead up to the ceremony, Neil interviews former Prime Minister Paul Keating on the 20th anniversary of his searing eulogy to Australia’s Unknown Soldier. Neil investigates the history of the Unknown Soldier and learns that there may be a possible link between his burial at Adelaide Cemetery in France and another Australian soldier named Harry Whiting. As this intriguing story unfolds, Neil makes a remarkable discovery.

To many Captain Alfred Shout was known as the Laughing Cavalier—to others he was simply one of the bravest and most decorated Australian soldiers of the Gallipoli campaign. Media Magnate Kerry Stokes paid $1.2. Million to donate Captain Alfred Shout’s Victoria Cross to the War Memorial. What is it about this hero of the infamous battle of Lone Pine that has captured the imagination of so many and why is he the epitome of the Anzac spirit? Nearly 100 years after Captain Alfred Shout’s death, Neil meets an 11-year-old descendant in a powerful story about love, remembrance and bravery. Meanwhile, with the major press conference looming, the Memorial’s curators are in a race against time to complete an exhibition featuring the uniform of VC recipient Ben Roberts-Smith.

For one year the series has followed the Australian War Memorial as it builds its new World War 1 Gallery. As the deadline to the opening of the new $32 million gallery draws near, the Memorial team work tirelessly to create one of the most impressive war galleries in the world. Neil documents the conservation of its new centrepiece—a statue named “The Winged Victory”. With a raised sword in one hand and her eyes downcast, The Winged Victory simultaneously symbolises Australia’s great pride as well as our overwhelming loss during the Great War. The program follows the Winged Victory’s journey—from a sad and broken relic in the Marrickville Council depot—to the grand centrepiece of the Memorial’s new exhibition gallery.

The Australian War Memorial holds one of the largest collections of Great War weapons, artillery and artefacts in the world. The majority of the largest objects are stored away from the Memorial’s main exhibitions areas, but Neil Oliver is granted unprecedented access to the weapons that changed the world forever. Neil also travels to the Western Front to tell the story of Lieutenant John "Alec" Raws and his brother Goldy. Prime Minister Tony Abbott, VC Recipient Mark Donaldson, Governor-General Peter Cosgrove, Former Prime Minister John Howard and former Governor-General Quentin Bryce all pay tribute to Alec Raws as his explicit letters, written from the Western front trenches, are read and remembered.