Tomorrow is ANZAC Day. 25th April 1915, was the date of the first landings on the beaches of the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey during the First World War. ANZAC Day takes it name from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corp. This is the day when Australians and New Zealanders everywhere recognise those who have made a sacrifice for their countries.
The landing were made by British, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, Indian and South African troops. Although the landing were not a success the RSL website [^] notes that the Gallipoli campaign “… gave to Australia a new pride. The Army had not failed. It had faced the horrors of modern war – the pain, the discomfort and the fear – with courage, determination and above all, good humour.”
The ANZAC Day Public Holiday will see many Australians, young and old, at Dawn Services across the country. This is now a proud celebration of the nation, in stark contrast with the event that looked as though it would die out with the passing of our WW1 survivors in the 1960’s and 1970’s. With one WW1 veteran left in Australia and many WW2 survivor now in their 80’s ANZAC Day is growing in popularity, “Lest We Forget”.
They shall grow not 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.
Laurence Binyon’s “For the Fallen”
* CannibalRabbit supports ANZAC Day, Legacy, and Remembrance Day.