Illinois National Guard, Australian Consul-General mark anniversary of World War I Battle

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CHICAGO, IL (06/18/2018) (readMedia)-- Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes Jr. and The Honorable Michael Wood gather at Pritzker Military Museum & Library

Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes. Jr. The Adjutant General – Illinois National Guard, of Chatham, Illinois, and the Honorable Michael Wood, Australian Consul-General, Chicago held a joint ceremony at the Pritzker Military Museum, Chicago, Illinois, on June 15.

The ceremony marked the 100 years of connection between members of the Illinois National Guard and the armed forces of Australia. The connection between the two forces began when units of the Illinois National Guard served under the Australian Army during the Battle of Hamel during World War I.

To mark the event Hayes presented a proclamation from Governor Bruce Rauner, which reads:

"One Hundred years later we proclaim remembrance on July 4, 2018 for the event that first united the United States and Australia against a common foe, as described by Australian Lieutenant General, John Monash, 'The Soldiers of the United States and Australia have thus been associated for the first time in such close cooperation on the battlefield is an historical event of such significance that it will live forever in the annals of our respective nations.'"

Wood focused on the relationship between the United States and Australia, now a century old, and the men who laid the foundation of the partnership. To commemorate that bond, the Australian government chose the term Mateship. Wood's remarks described that term for the Americans in attendance.

"This experience forged the bond between those troops, and indeed, our countries, that was to set the future for our relationship. And in Australia we have a way to describe that relationship, Mateship," said Wood. "Mateship is reserved for those that share an unspoken bond of friendship, trust, commitment, and shared values. Mates stick by each other through good times and bad, mates have each other's backs."

Wood represented the Australian government for the event, he presented soil taken from the battlefield. The soil from the spot where men from Illinois and Australia fought side by side served as a reminder of the relationship between the American and Australian military forces.

Photo 1: The Honorable Michael Wood, Australian Consul-General, Chicago, offers remarks at the ceremony marking 100 years of partnership between U.S. and Australian Armed Forces, June 15 at the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, Chicago, Illinois. Illinois National Guard Soldiers fought under the command of Australian forces during the Battle of Hamel during World War I, July, 1918. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Stephen Gifford, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Photo 2: Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes Jr, The Adjutant General – Illinois National Guard, reads a proclamation from Governor Rauner declaring the day of remembrance marking the joint combat action of the Illinois National Guard and Australian Soldiers. Illinois National Guard Soldiers and Australian forces fought together during the Battle of Hamel during World War I, July, 1918. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Stephen Gifford, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Photo 3: Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes Jr, the Adjutant General – Illinois National Guard, Soldiers from the Illinois National guard present the Honorable Michael Wood, Australian Consul-General, Chicago, with proclamation from Governor Bruce Rauner marking 100 years of partnerships between the U.S. and Australian armed forces on June 15, at the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, Chicago, Illinois. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Stephen Gifford, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)