Anzac Day

Views and Posts by youngneill and kiwi kimmy

To us here in kiwi land (New Zealand), the 25th of April has a significant meaning. Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, originally commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honor the members of the Australain and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War 1. It now more broadly commemorates all those who died and served in military operations for their countries. Anzac Day is also observed in the Cook Islands, Niue, Pitcairn, and Tonga. It is no longer observed as a national holiday in Samoa. The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose soldiers were known as Anzacs. Anzac Day remains one of the most important national occasions of both Australia and New Zealand, a rare instance of two sovereign countries not only sharing the same remembrance day, but making reference to both countries in its name. When war broke out in 1914, Australia and New Zealand had been dominions of the British Empire for thirteen and seven years respectively. As a child in New Zealand we were all taught the meaning of Anzac Day and what the whole thing was about. As an adult I have made sure that my children know the meaning of Anzac Day, and have to admit that it’s very moving when watching one of the many parades around New Zealand, when you see our veterans and our young marching side by side the down the street. When I was a child I remember my grandfather after the dawn parade, just sitting on his chair with a whiskey in his hand and tears either in his eyes or rolling down his cheeks. For our veterans like others through out the world it is a time of rememberance. Sometimes they remember the good times and other times well not so good. I’m lucky that after what my grandad went through during WWII that he was around to see those Anzac Day’s. In 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of an allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula, according to a plan by Winston Churchill to open the way to the Black Sea for the allied navies. The objective was to capture Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, which was an ally of Germany during the war. The Anzac force landed at Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting firece resistance from the Ottoman Army commanded by Mustafa Kemal (later known as Ataturk). What had been planned as a bold strike to knock the Ottomans out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915, the allied forces were evacuated after both sides has suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. The allied casualties included 21,255 from the United Kingdom, an estimated 10,000 dead soldiers from France, 8,709 from Australia, 2,721 from New Zealand and 1,358 from British India. News of the landing at Gallipoli made a profound impact on Australians and New Zealanders at home and 25 April quickly became the day on which they remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in war. Though the Gallipoli campaign failed to achieve its military objectives of capturing Constantinople and knocking the Ottoman Empire out of the war, the actions of the Australian and New Zealand troops during the campaign bequeathed an intagible but powerful legacy. The creation of what became known as an “Anzac legend” became an important part of the national identity in both countries. This has shaped the way their citizens have viewed both their past and their understanding of the present. Everyone knows that the friendship is at best stretched, how ever this is one day of the year when we come together to remember those who have fallen. Now to New Zealand Anzac day isn’t just about the battle of Gallipoli and those who lost their lives that day, it is a day for all of us to come togethere to remember all who fallen during all wars. Every year their are parades, and rememberence, so this year on the 25 April no matter where you are save a little thought for those who have passed away because of wars. “They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning We will remember them. Lest we forget.”

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