It’s probably the most important day of the year in Australia.
It’s the one day of the year when Australian’s not only celebrate being Australian, but where we honor those Australians who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
ANZAC - it’s a very strange word, but no matter where they are in the world, to the people of Australia and New Zealand, it represents a legacy of courage under the worst possible circumstances.
Lest We Forget.
ANZAC stands for Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. It was the name given by the British High Command to the combined Australian and New Zealand forces during World War 1.
These forces were entirely volunteer - many of them were young men fresh from the farms, young men who, in many cases, had never before traveled more than 20 miles from their homes. Young men who blithely marched off to War saying “We’ll be home by Christmas”.
Young men: many of whom never came home at all.
In 1915, the ANZAC’s were stationed in Egypt and so they were the natural choice when the High Command decided that the best way to invade Constantinople was from the sea. Their choice of landing was Gallipoli beach in Turkey.
It was one of the biggest military blunders of all time.
On 25 April 1915, the troops arrived on the beach at Gallipoli - to discover a small shingle beach with high cliffs. They had to negotiate these cliffs before they could even start to advance.
Unfortunately, the Turks had seen them arrive, and so they were picked off en-masse as they landed.
And yet, they did not give up.
They fought their way to the top of the cliffs and dug in.
Every nation must, at some point, face their coming of age.
25 April 1915 was Australia’s.
We honor those soldiers on the anniversary of this terrible battle.
To understand ANZAC, you need firstly to understand something about it.
Australian soldiers are generally known as “Diggers” - and are proud of it. The only group of soldiers honored with the name of ANZAC are those who fought at Gallipoli, and subsequently in France. Yes - the survivors of that horrible battle then were asked to sacrifice themselves in the fields of Flanders.
ANZAC services are held not only in Australia and New Zealand, but also on the beaches of Gallipoli - in the cove renamed ANZAC Cove, and also in a number of places in France, who remember the Australian soldiers who defended them, and who have honored a large number of them with French medals.
The ANZAC Day service is held at dawn - about 4:30am (no matter where in the world it is held). The order of the Dawn Service is unchanged and is:
- Catafalque Party takes post
- Welcome address and introduction of the Guest Speaker
- Address by the Guest Speaker (often a local dignitary, ex-service person, member of the Defence Force, teacher or student. Of later years, there are often two guests and one of these is always a child)
- Hymn
- Response to the Address
- Prayer
- Laying of the Wreaths (anybody can lay a wreath, and the order in which the wreaths are laid is arranged by the RSL - the Returned Services League)
- Uniform Resolution
- The Ode
- Last Post
- One Minute’s Silence
- Rouse & Flag’s Raised
- Recitation of an appropriate Poem
- National Anthem
- Catafalque party dismounts
- Closing Thanks
In my own home city, Brisbane, the Council puts on special buses for the Dawn Service, dropping passengers at ANZAC Square, our main city War Memorial. (If you visit here you will see a photo of Brisbane’s ANZAC Square, together with full details of the Dawn Service).
Originally, ANZAC day - first held in the 1920's - honored only the ANZAC’s. However, it has come, over the years, to be our day of remembrance for all those who fought for Australia in all wars.
Later during the day, the ANZAC parade takes place. It is always lead by the ANZAC’s. This year, however, there will be no proud ANZAC’s to lead the parade, for it is only recently that the last ANZAC has joined his comrades.
Australia mourns his passing, however these men and women are not forgotten. It has always been a proud tradition for children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to march in the ANZAC Day parade, proudly wearing the medals of their forefathers.
Following the ANZAC’s come the veterans and family’s of World War 2, then all the other conflicts in which Australia has participated.
After Vietnam, it was hoped that there would be no more war veterans marching, however ANZAC Day parades now include veterans of both Gulf Wars, and members of Australia’s Peacekeeping forces around the world.
One of the most keenly desired duties by members of the current Australian Armed Forces is, however, being chosen to wear the uniforms of World War 1 and 2 and to march with those veterans.
ANZAC Day not only honors the soldiers - it also honors the medical staff who served during conflict. It honors the women who formed part of the Land Army, and who served in the Armed Forces at home.
ANZAC Day is a day where there is absolutely no conflict about what is open and what isn’t. The only shops open are those small “convenience” stores. From 1pm, pubs and the RSL clubs open. Everything else - including cinema’s - remains closed.
ANZAC Day is the one day of the year in which the unique Aussie game of “Two Up” is legally able to be played outside the Casino. Most RSL Clubs organize a Two Up tournament - with all proceeds going to the RSL charities.
In many ways, ANZAC Day is more Australia’s national day than Australia Day. ANZAC day is about the spirit of a people - the strength they showed in their darkest hour. The highest accolade that can be paid to any Aussie is to be told that they “show the spirit of the ANZAC”.
It is with pride that we find out armed forces showing that same spirit where they serve - from their peacekeeping activities in Africa and East Timor to their most recent activities aiding Tsunami Victims in both Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
There was a time, during the 1970's mostly, where ANZAC Day was “unfashionable”. However, it could never really die, and it has now grown bigger and bigger every year.
This year, over 20,000 Australians will be at ANZAC Cove at Gallipoli for the Dawn Service.
This year, most Australian school children will take part in an ANZAC day ceremony - either in their State’s capital cities, or in one of the ceremonies that takes places in the suburbs and the small towns.
And that’s what makes it special.
ANZAC Day is not just something that the major cities do. There is not one place in Australia - one small town or even the suburbs that does not have it’s own War Memorial. On ANZAC day, all of these memorials have a Dawn Service, and most even have a small Parade of their own.
ANZAC Day is the day Australian’s pay honor to those who defended what Australia stands for.
The most fitting tribute is, in my opinion, The Ode.
The Ode actually comes from the poem For The Fallen by Laurence Binyon and was first published in London in The Winnowing Fan: Poems of the Great War in 1914.
The Ode is usually carved on all Australian War Memorials, and can be recited by nearly all Australians - even if they have no idea it’s part of a longer poem.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
ANZAC Day - 25 April. Lest We Forget.
Further Reading
The Official ANZAC Day Website
This is a magnificent site, and you will spend hours wandering through it. It is the most comprehensive site on ANZAC Day that you will find.
Australian War Memorial ANZAC Day pages
The Australian War Memorial is in Canberra. I’ve highlighted the ANZAC Day portion of the site, however the full site is one that you will want to read more of.
ANZAC Day in New Zealand
How ANZAC Day is commemorated in New Zealand
The official Australian Government ANZAC Day website
Gallipoli Today
Is there anything that you would particularly like to see an article on? Have you got any questions about Australia that you'd like answered? If so, please e-mail me with your suggestions.
©2004, 2005 Megan McConnell
Save to Del.icio.us
