RSL Wanneroo

Thank you for your service. Lest we Forget

With the 18th of August approaching, we honour all the veterans who returned home to fight silent battles within, and we pause for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Look out for each other, check on your mates, and stay safe.

Lest we forget.

☢️ ON THIS DAY — 16 JULY 1945

🇺🇸 THE TRINITY TEST

At 5:29 a.m. on 16 July 1945, the world changed forever.

In the New Mexico desert, the United States successfully detonated the world's first atomic bomb. Known as the Trinity Test, it marked the successful culmination of the Manhattan Project after years of secret research involving many of the world's leading scientists.

The blinding flash illuminated the desert before a massive mushroom cloud climbed more than 40,000 feet into the sky, confirming that atomic weapons had become a reality.

💥 THE EXPLOSION

The Trinity device released the explosive force of approximately 25,000 tons of TNT.

The blast could be felt more than 100 miles (160 km) away, while the mushroom cloud climbed over 40,000 feet into the atmosphere.

🧠 DID YOU KNOW?

• The bomb tested at Trinity was nicknamed "The Gadget."

• It used the same plutonium implosion design as the "Fat Man" bomb later dropped on Nagasaki.

• Around 425 people were present at the test site, including scientists, military officers and observers.

⚔️ WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

Germany had already surrendered in Europe, leaving Japan as the last major Axis power still fighting.

Less than one month after the Trinity Test, atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima (6 August 1945) and Nagasaki (9 August 1945), helping bring the Second World War to an end while beginning the nuclear age.

📖 A MOMENT THAT CHANGED HISTORY

The Trinity Test remains one of the most significant scientific and military events in history. It demonstrated mankind's ability to unlock the power of the atom—an achievement that transformed warfare, global politics, and the modern world forever.

16th August 1945:

Japan's Emperor Hirohito issued a formal cease-fire, ordering all Japanese military forces to stop fighting.

The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which killed between 150,000 to 246,000 people, led to Japan's surrender. This surrender offically ended the Second World War in the Pacific.

Australian Prime Minister Ben Chifley addressed the nation on August 15th with a victory speech - "Fellow citizens, the war is over".

Over 39,000 Australians died during World War II.

Lest we Forget.

On this day in 1915, Australian Light Horsemen charged at the Nek during the Gallipoli Campaign.

The dismounted cavalrymen launched themselves against well-prepared Ottoman defences in one of the campaign's most tragic assaults. In just 15 minutes, the Anzacs suffered 372 casualties. Though the attack ended in victory for the Ottoman Empire, the courage and sacrifice of those who served has never been forgotten.

Today, we remember all those who fought at the Nek.

Lest we forget.

🖼️ The charge of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade at the Nek, 7 August 1915, painted by George Lambert, 1924 (AWM).

Applications for AVCAT - Australian Veterans' Children Assistance Trust scholarships open soon, and if there's a student in your family, this is worth a look.

AVCAT supports the children and grandchildren of veterans with the cost of tertiary education. For many families in our community, a scholarship has been the difference between a young person putting study off and getting started.

Applications open on 18 August, Vietnam Veterans' Day, and close at midnight AEDT on 31 October. Apply online at avcat.org.au, and check the eligibility requirements before applying: https://avcat.org.au/scholarships/

If you know a family with a school leaver or a student already partway through their studies, pass this on.

Thank you for your Service