Preserving the history of those who served with the 2/2nd Field Regiment, 6th Division, 2nd A.I.F. 1939-1945.
The 2/2nd Field Regiment Association proudly represents former members of the 2/2nd Field Regiment, 6th Division, 2nd A.I.F. We welcome the support of their families, relatives, descendants and friends in our mission to preserve, study and promote the history of the 2/2nd Field Regiment, 1939-1945, as part of Australian Military Heritage.
The 2/2nd Field Regiment Association are proud to announce a joint collaboration with The Shrine Melbourne to present:
SPARTANS & ANZACS
15 April 2026 - April 2027
Australia had its own Thermopylae. We’ve just forgotten it.
In 480 BC, one of history’s most famous battles was fought in central Greece at the narrow coastal pass of Thermopylae. For three days, a few thousand Greeks—led by 300 Spartan warriors and their king, Leonidas I—held back a vast Persian army. Eventually encircled, the Spartans and their allies were killed. Their stand, however, allowed thousands of comrades to escape and fight on, leaving an enduring example of courage and sacrifice.
In April 1941, on the eve of Anzac Day, Australian and New Zealand troops returned to this same ground. Outnumbered and under relentless pressure from advancing German forces, ANZAC units used the rugged terrain of Thermopylae and nearby Brallos Pass to delay the enemy, enabling thousands of Allied soldiers to withdraw to safety.
SPARTANS & ANZACS draws a powerful connection between these two defining moments. It reveals how service, sacrifice and mateship transcend time, linking ancient warriors with modern soldiers in a shared legacy of courage.
This exhibition invites reflection on the enduring values forged in conflict—and how these stories continue to shape the meaning of remembrance today.
Galleries of Remembrance
Free entry
This exhibition was supported by the Victorian Government and the Victorian Veterans Council.
In 480 BC, one of history’s most famous battles was fought in central Greece at the narrow coastal pass of Thermopylae. For three days, a few thousand Greeks—led by 300 Spartan warriors and their king, Leonidas I—held back a vast Persian army. Eventually encircled, the Spartans and their allies were killed. Their stand, however, allowed thousands of comrades to escape and fight on, leaving an enduring example of courage and sacrifice.
In April 1941, on the eve of Anzac Day, Australian and New Zealand troops returned to this same ground. Outnumbered and under relentless pressure from advancing German forces, ANZAC units used the rugged terrain of Thermopylae and nearby Brallos Pass to delay the enemy, enabling thousands of Allied soldiers to withdraw to safety.
SPARTANS & ANZACS draws a powerful connection between these two defining moments. It reveals how service, sacrifice and mateship transcend time, linking ancient warriors with modern soldiers in a shared legacy of courage.
This exhibition invites reflection on the enduring values forged in conflict—and how these stories continue to shape the meaning of remembrance today.
Galleries of Remembrance
Free entry
This exhibition was supported by the Victorian Government and the Victorian Veterans Council.
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