Australia Post has released a series of five commemorative stamps to mark the
final days of World War I as the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice on 11 November looms.
The stamps are part of Australia Post’s series Centenary of WWI: 1918.
Philatelic Manager at Australia Post, Michael Zsolt said this was the final issue in a five-year program commemorating World War I, with each issue looking back 100 years on war efforts at home and abroad.
“In this issue, we used the image archive of the Australian War Memorial to focus on and highlight significant events and themes associated with the end of the war in 1918,” Mr Zsolt said.
Senior Historian at the Memorial, Aaron Pegram worked with Australia Post throughout the five-year program to help bring the stamps to life.
He said the aim was to tell the story of Australia during World War 1 and the impact it had on Australian society.
“Australia Post’s five-year commemorative stamp program has been comprehensive. It has covered all theatres of fighting, the major campaigns fought by the Australian Imperial Force, and both the victories and losses during the war,” Dr Pegram said.
He said the final issue looked at the momentous events of 1918, the Armistice signed on 11 November, and the loss of around 60,000 Australians during more than four years of fighting.
The five domestic rate $1 stamps are titled Last 100 Days; Lieut Gen. Sir John Monash; Armistice Declared; Return Home, and Honouring the Fallen.
