Marching on through the generations

THE Anzac Day march serves as a day of remembrance for many, but for David Edwards and his grandson, Jude Edwards-Rose, it also marks a familial tradition that has spanned the course of Jude’s entire life.

The pair have been marching together since Jude was a few weeks old, and the upcoming march will mark the 12th year of their annual pastime.

Edward, a veteran of the Vietnam War, took part marches in his younger years, but said he only returned to the commemorations with the birth of his first-born grandson.

“We weren’t all that popular when we came home. We had people throwing red paint at us when we were marching. It was a funny feeling,” he said.

“Only when Jude was born did I start to take an interest in it again, to try to involve him in some way and carry on my experience.

“The first couple years were pretty funny because he didn’t seem to know quite what was going on.

“I used to carry him in my arms much of the time, and he’s been properly marching with me the last four or five years. It’s great to have the little fella alongside me.”

Since starting their tradition, the pair have marched throughout regional Victoria at Ballarat, Ararat, Beaufort and Kyabram.

Jude wears replicas of David’s medals, with himself wearing the originals which he adorns alongside his own grandfather’s World War One medals.

Over the years, the marching duo has received the attention of newspaper photographers, and one photo has appeared in the AFL records for the Anzac Day game before being displayed across the MCG scoreboard.

Although Jude said he has admired his “Poppy’s” army service since as long as he can remember, it is only recently that he has asked David more personal questions about his time in combat.

“I remember I thought it was cool for a very long time, but when I could realise what actually happened, that’s when I started to want to know more,” he said.

“It sounds like it would have been pretty scary at times, like when you’re like really excited but you’re also really nervous, not knowing what was going to happen to you.”

David’s military career spanned from 1970 to 1985, having served in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals for nine years before spending six years with the Royal Australian Air Force.

The pair are set to set to take part in their first in-person march since 2019, and David said each Anzac Day provides an opportunity for his grandkids to appreciate the experiences of other veterans.

“What I’ve instilled into the kids is that the march is for the people in WWI and WWII. Without them, God only knows where we would be and what sort of country we would live in,” he said.

“We have our day, Veteran’s Day, in August, and once the kids understand all that, I think it’s wonderful to keep that spirit alive. The proper Anzac spirit.

“I’m glad I’m able to pass my experiences onto my grandkids. Not everyone I knew from that time got to do that.”