ANZAC - Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
Anzac day is very special to Australian's and New Zealanders alike. It is a day of reflection, of pride and of commemoration of all those who fought for our freedom.
Why do we celebrate it on the 25th of April?
On the 25th of April 1915 Australian and New Zealand troops formed an expedition to go to the Gallipoli peninsula and pave the way for the Allied navies to take Constantinople from the Ottoman Empire - an ally of Germany. It was their first engagement in the Great War and lasted until 1918 when troops were evacuated and the campaign a failure. The losses were heavy on both sides. |
| The Last Post is played at an ANZAC Day ceremony in Port Melbourne, Victoria - public domain |
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| Australian and New Zealand troops at a dawn service in Iraq in 2018 - public domain |
What does ANZAC Day mean to you?
If you live outside of Australia/New Zealand, do you have a similar commemoration for your own service men and women?
Love to Love: Watching the ANZAC parade or watching the Gallipoli movie with Mel Gibson.
Love to Laugh: at the wild tales the diggers have told - some really were larrikins.
Love to Learn: From the mistakes of the past so we don't repeat them.
Book Recommendations
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A timely post, Cassandra. My dad was in the RAAF and served in Malaya (now Malaysia) during the Communist conflicts in the 1950s, so ANZAC Day has always been a special day for my family. As children, we attended the service at the War Memorial in Canberra every year. Now that Dad has gone, ANZAC Day is, for me, a day to remember not only all those who have laid down their lives for us, but also to remember my dad.
ReplyDeleteI love how it is a day to celebrate those we have lost and those that came home but are no longer with us. We thank brave men like your father on ANZAC day.
DeleteHi Cassandra. ANZAC Day for me is a day to remember and honour those soldiers who fought for us and came back and those who fought and lost their lives for us so we may live our lives free of discrimination and persecution. Our soldiers are our protectors, and should be held in high regard.
ReplyDeleteWe do indeed Enisa.
ReplyDeleteThe ANZAC service and for many, their ultimate sacrifice forged our nation. The Spirit of the Anzacs - their mateship and courage is legendary. The incredibly heavy losses of life they sustained earned us recognition as a nation with separate representation at the League of Nations post-WW1 meetings. No longer were we viewed as just a “colony” of England. It was a horrific price to pay but a huge part of our nation’s history.
ReplyDeleteI’d like to share a link to my favourite poem with you. “In Flander’s Fields” never fails to bring a tear to my eye.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47380/in-flanders-fields
Lest we forget.
I love that poem Alyssa.
DeleteA very special day. I take some time out to remember those among my family and others I know who served. I also make sure we have ANZAC biscuits in the house, and aim to have a sausage sizzle! Thanks for the book reommendations Cassandra, and the reminder of that amazing film Gallipoli - I haven't watched it for years and it still resonates. One day when I'm brave enough I'll re-watch it.
ReplyDeleteI remember the stunned silence throughout the cinema at the end of 'Gallipoli', and then everyone started to clap (through the tears). It was a memorable experience.
DeleteHi Cassandra, thanks for this post. My great uncle was killed in World War 1. He put up his age to get in like so many others Sadly like many others, he never came home. It’s so important that we remember those who fought and those who died.
ReplyDeleteSo many young lives gone so quickly,but we never forget them and ANZAC day is a great way to honour them.
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