ANZAC Day...

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Tomorrow, our time, is ANZAC day for us Aussies. For those of you not in the know (particularly those of you in the USA or the UK), ANZAC Day marks the anniversary of the day (25th of April, 1915) that the ANZAC soliders (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) landed at Gallipoli during the disastrous campaign in the Dardanelles.

Although the British, the Turks, and the French lost more men than us during that bitter and (ultimately) futile plan, Australia suffered more losses relative to its population back home.

I cannot say that I will go to a Dawn Service. But I still keep the ANZAC tradition to my heart. My great-grandfather was an ANZAC, although he fought in France, rather than Gallipoli. His father and brother fought in Gallipoli. They all survived that.

My great-grandfather died in 1996. And with each year, the ranks of the original ANZACS who fought in World War I diminishes. But their spirit must live on.

I remember, also, my visit to the Australian War Memorial and Museum a couple of years back. A solemn place. And an informative one.

The horrors of war have not gone away. But neither has the spirit of the ANZACS.

One of the few times both sides of the ditch get along?

In all seriousness, I fully respect ANZAC. My high school is right next to the tomb of the unknown warrior (which is part of the War Museum) so I have a natural respect for the place. However, some [insert ToS violating words here] MORONS like to skate and tag around the place. My family is Dutch, so we're not part of the immediate ANZAC community, so for me ANZAC Day is sort of like New Zealand's WWII Memoriam Day.

Quatermass, I saw an Aussie movie called Gallipoli that had Mel Gibson in it. It was a good movie with a tragic ending. I don't know how accurate the movie is. I attend services here for Memorial Day and Veterans Day every year.

From a USN vet for your ANZACs.

Gratiae ad gladii amicorum.

"Grace towards the swords of friends"


(Happy Anzac day or however it would best be said.)

I don't not if this Poem is known in Australia but almost all Canadian school children are taught it and recite it for Remembrance Day

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
— John McCrae

The Flanders Field poem is used here by our own Veterans Of Foreign Wars (VFW) organization Spudnik. It's a good one.

I understand how you can be angry at these little (censored). I remember, when I went to the War Memorial, I went into that giant chapel with the Tomb of the Unknown soldier, I think. So solemn, and quiet. A vast, echoey chamber, all spoiled by someone shouting "whoop!" just to hear the echoes.



As far as I know, velodog, it was accurate. Not a real life story, but one that could have been. According to the Wikipedia article, it was accurate for how it portrayed Australian life at the time, although some events in the film were changed for dramatic purposes, and there is a little dispute on historical accuracy, especially of the chain of command.

i have been to the memorial in canberra and to the shrine of rememberance in Melbourne. solemn experiences they were.

Do you guys watch the traditional anzac day AFL game or NRL game?

they are the most important home and away games of the year.

No. Not interested in football. Or rugby, if pedantic sods wish to correct me.

it was cool that they had a dawn service in france this year as a way to also acknowledge the soldiers that served on the western front. loads of aussies attended it, as well as the one at Gallipoli.

Gallipoli was bad, but the Western Front was probably closer to Hell.

It's ANZAC day in New Zealand now.

I didn't go to the dawn service.

My great-grandfather was an ANZAC, though, so I really should have attended.

Yes Australia and New Zealand have always had a good military relationship.

Until this happened.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKNQ-crIr50[/youtube]

The two countries have been at war ever since.

i think everyone is over that now. there is more of a spirit of friendship now.
there is a new netball league with teams from Australia and new Zealand.

ANZAC day is really good. Especially since I did a St John Ambulance duty at the main parade in Melbourne. It was really impressive to watch all the veterans walking past, especially since my family had two people serve in WWI and three in WWII.
In case you're wondering my brother joined the military and he will be the fifth generation of military service. So it is a big deal for us

This is the first year I did not go to the dawn service. As much as I respect ANZACS and ANZAC day, I don't believe in war. I do pity those who were there because of conscription though, I am so glad its gone now.