The shrine of remembrance memorial in Brisbane
In 1914 Australia had been a Federal Commonwealth for just 14 years and the new government was eager to establish its reputation among the nations of the world. In 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey to open the way to the Black Sea.
The plan was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul), capital of the Ottoman Empire and an ally of Germany. They landed at Gallipoli on April 25th and met fierce resistance from the Turkish defenders. Instead of finding the flat beach they expected, they faced steep cliffs and constant barrages of enemy fire and shelling. What had been planned as a bold stroke to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate and the campaign dragged on for eight months. The ANZACs and the Turkish forces literally ‘dug in’, each side creating kilometres of trenches from where they could fire upon the enemy.
Thousands of Australian and New Zealand soldiers died in the hours and days that followed the landing. The stalemate ended in retreat with the evacuation of the ANZACs on 20 December 1915. Both sides suffered heavy casualties with more than 8,700 Australian soldiers killed and more than 25,000 wounded .
News of the landing at Gallipoli had a profound impact on Australians at home. April 25th quickly became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in war. Though the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives, the Australian and New Zealand troops’ actions during the campaign bequeathed an intangible but powerful legacy. The creation of the Anzac legend became an important part of the national identity of both nations.
History of Anzac Day
Anzac Day was first officially held on 25 April 1916 with ceremonies and remembrance services. In 1917, the word ANZAC meant someone who fought at Gallipoli, later it came to mean any Australian or New Zealander who fought or served in the First World War. By the 1920s, Anzac Day ceremonies were held throughout Australia. All States had designated Anzac Day as a public holiday.
Commemoration of Anzac Day continued throughout the 1930s and 1940s with World War II veterans joining parades around the country. ANZAC Day evolved to became a day on which the lives of all Australians lost in war time were remembered. In the ensuing decades returned servicemen and women from the conflicts in Malaya, Indonesia, Korea and Vietnam, veterans from allied countries and peacekeepers joined the parades
Anzac Day Commemorations
Australia commemorates ANZAC Day with marches, dawn services and numerous social gatherings and traditions held in capital cities and towns nationwide. The ANZAC Day parade from each state capital is televised live with commentary. These events are followed generally by social gatherings of veterans, hosted either in a pub or in a Returned and Services League (RSL) Club.
Thousands of Australians now make the annual pilgrimage to ANZAC Cove in Gallipoli. Until 1999 the Gallipoli dawn service was held at the Ari Burnu war cemetery, however, with growing numbers of people attending a new “Anzac Commemorative Site” was built on North Beach.
A piper at a service of remembrance
Although Australia’s official national day is “Australia Day”, many Australians have now come to regard ANZAC Day as the true national day of the country. The spirit of ANZAC recognises the qualities of courage, mateship and sacrifice which were demonstrated at the Gallipoli landing.
ANZAC Day Events
On Anzac Day, Australians all over the world pause to remember and honour the service and sacrifice of Australia’s servicemen and women in wars, conflicts and peace operations. Anzac commemoration ceremonies are held across the country and include dawn services, marches, social gatherings and citizen services.
Dawn services are a solemn Australian and New Zealand tradition. They are held at war memorials and public spaces and incorporate hymns, readings, the playing of the “The last post”, wreath laying, a minute of silence, “The rouse” or “The reveille”, and the National Anthem.
- The National Commemoration services take place in Canberra with the National Anzac Day Dawn Service taking place at 5:30am at the Parade Ground at the Australian War Memorial and the National Anzac Day Commemoration Ceremony taking place at 10:15am.
- All state and territory capital cities hold a dawn service and an ANZAC Day march.
- ‘Two Up’ is a traditional Australian gambling game that was an extremely popular pastime with Anzac soldiers. “Two-up” has become a regular feature of Anzac Day celebrations in pubs and in RSL clubs across Australia. The importance of this tradition is demonstrated that though most Australian states have laws forbidding gambling outside of designated licensed venues, on Anzac Day it is legal to play “two-up”.
- An Australian Rules football match is played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between traditional Australian Football League rivals the Collingwood Magpies and Essendon Bombers on ANZAC day in celebration of the ANZAC spirit. The event has been a tradition since 1995.
Anzac Biscuits - A Sweet Tradition
Anzac biscuits were created during the early period of the First World War around 1914-15. They were made by the women on the “home front” in an endeavor to make a nutritious treat that did not readily spoil and would survive the long journey to the war front. The Anzac biscuit recipe was based on a Scottish recipe using rolled oats, sugar, plain flour, coconut, butter, golden syrup or treacle and bi-carb soda. To ensure the biscuits remained fresh, the women sent them in air-tight tins such as the Billy Tea tins. Today Anzac biscuits are a family favourite and are often sold by veterans’ organisations in fundraising drives.
Useful Links
Department of Veterans’ Affairs – www.dva.gov.au
Australian War Memorial Website – www.awm.gov.au
Anzac Day – www.anzacday.org.au
Courtesy of Tourism Australia
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