Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders “who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations” and “the contribution and suffering of all those who have served”.

Australia’s first national flag, which dates back to WWI, was painstakingly restored in 2017.

In a dusty vault deep in the heart of the Newcastle Cathedral, an unsuspecting cardboard box sat forgotten for years. But that box contained one of our most significant artefacts from World War I — Australia’s first national flag.

The Anglican Christ Church Cathedral in Newcastle Australia

Known as the Birdwood Flag, it was flown at the headquarters of General William Birdwood at the Western Front. General Birdwood was in command of the Australian troops, who at the time were fighting for the “Empire”.

Australia was only14 years old at the start of the first world war and the Union Jack was the main flag that Australian troops fought under. Something that still galls us today!

It was thought to be lost forever, but a far-sighted dean had been quietly collecting the bits and storing them away safely”, according to current dean Stephen Williams.

Australia is fortunate that no-one had thrown it out.

The bag of “confetti” that was to eventually end up in the hands of Julian Bickersteth for restoration, “We’ve worked on lots of flags but never anything like [one in] this condition — this is a very complex job,” he said. Over 18 months, he and his team assembled the hundreds of pieces of silk like one would a jigsaw puzzle.

“We had a lot of larger pieces, plus we had a lot of stitched edges,” he said

The flag was eventually returned to Christ Church Cathedral for re-hallowing in 1917.

Thanks to the ABC for the information contained in this post.