Why is this day special to Australians?
On the morning of 25 April 1915, the Anzacs set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in order to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies. The objective was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul in Turkey), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, and an ally of Germany.
The Anzacs landed on Gallipoli and met fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. Their plan to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months.
At the end of 1915, the allied forces were evacuated. Both sides suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Over 8,000 Australian soldiers were killed. News of the landing on Gallipoli and the events that followed had a profound impact on Australians at home. The 25th of April soon became the day on which Australians remember the sacrifice of those who had died in the war.
The Anzacs were courageous and although the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives, the Australian and New Zealand actions during the campaign left us all a powerful legacy.
What does Anzac Day mean today?
With the coming of the Second World War, Anzac Day also served to commemorate the lives of Australians who died in that war. The meaning of Anzac Day today includes the remembrance of all Australians killed in military operations.
Australian Federation Guard at the Australian War Memorial
Members from Australia's Federation Guard form a catafalque party around the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier at the Australian War Memorial.
What happens on ANZAC Day?
Anzac Day remembrance takes two forms. Commemorative services are held at dawn ? the time of the original landing in Gallipoli ? across the nation. Later in the day, ex-servicemen and women meet to take part in marches through the major cities and in many smaller centres. Commemorative ceremonies are more formal and are held at war memorials around the country.
The idea for the two minute silence is said to have originated with Edward George Honey, a Melbourne journalist and First World War veteran who was living in London in 1919. He wrote a letter to the London Evening News in which he appealed for five minutes silence, to honour the sacrifice of those who had died during the war.
More information :
www.army.gov.au/our-history
ANZAC day is not a celebration.
So despite the back and forth bantering I've grown accustomed to, here on SB anyway, Australia and NZ share a common history, when it comes to the Great War, WW2, and others.
Have a good April 25th. 
Im off to the dawn service shortly, Can't believe its raining though.
Very special day.
W
Select to expand quoteworrier said...
Im off to the dawn service shortly, Can't believe its raining though.
Very special day.
W
The rain stayed away at the Quinns Rocks service and it couldn't have been a nicer morning. Far bigger turnout than I expected.
Lest we forget.
To the 39,000 ish that stood with quiet respect this morning in Kings Park, well done.
To the small minority who went for entertainment, who were more interested in taking a photo so the could be the first to post on Facebook, you're missing the point of this occasion.
To the lycra lads on their carbon ssteeds who thought they were at the cafe and wouldn't shut up, I salute you, with one finger.
Salute, those poor bastards. I've been to Gallipoli and it's a **** hole... crappy place to die for a crappy reason.
I have just returned from 2 Anzac Day services in the rain 5 km apart and traveled by bicycle in uniform.
Each year since 1963 when the Goldfields Brass Band was formed we have played for the Boulder(outdoor) and Kalgoorlie(indoor) services. I have only missed 4 years services when I played Last Post and Reveille for Wyndham RSL service instead. The crowd was understandably down this year due to the inclement weather.
Select to expand quoteKamikuza said..
Salute, those poor bastards. I've been to Gallipoli and it's a **** hole... crappy place to die for a crappy reason.
You're right.
It was all about the 'Empire' and Australia was part of it.
There was no threat to Australia, or Canada, or India, but they were all dragged over there for the same reason.
Australia mostly forgets we were part of a major 'coalition of the willing' as it might be referred to more recently.
We were part of the "empire', so there we were.
You would think that we would have learnt something from that but all the history since then seems to indicate we learnt nothing.
Other similar conflicts involving a "crappy place to die for a crappy reason" would be Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq, none of them any threat to australia and yet there we were, upholding the supposed 'empire' under one form or another.
I don't include the first Iraq conflict in 1991. That was a reasonable cause, but the most recent one fails all tests of justification.
"Lest we forget" ?
We seem to remember the event but not the error, so we go on making the same one over and over.
It's a bit sad really, that we can hold such a rememberance each year and yet not take notice of the futitlity of the whole concept of what is a worthless exercise and what is not.
^^ yes to a point. WW1 yes, I disagree with you on the latter wars.
I am proud to be part of the countries that step in and help the underdog.
Seems nobody complains that we went to help white people in Bosnia, or people obviously suffering starvation due to civil war in Ethiopia, but it is trendy to claim we should not have been in Vietnam (invasion from north), Afghanistan ( Taliban rule treating women like **** and harboring terrorists) or Iraq (gassing it's own civilians in name of religion / caste / class)
Yes there are ulterior motives also, but primarily Aussies are sticking up for those who don't have the power to.
1 BC
19th century
The Gallipoli charge wasn't the last to be mowed down by machine gunfire; the Japanese performed an ill fated charge in Guadalcanal in the 2nd world war.
But why? Why didn't they shield themselves?
Every year I try to understand these 'celebrations ' of war and those who have paid the price for our freedom, and that's what I think most wars have in common!
The right to vote and the security to live a productive life raising a family or success in work and building a future that's not going to be taken away by some power hungry greedy asshole who has no faith in anything except his gun.
Sorry ^^^ this is so poorly written!
I can't find the words to describe my feelings, I'm angry that after so many have died and given so much that we still make guns and fight...
We'll never learn it seems...
I'm still at a lost on this subject and even though I'm well read on war and have the imagination to picture the true horror of it.
I'm grateful that iv been spared so far in having to defend democracy and give thanks everyday to live in this great country of ours and hope the rest of the world can enjoy such peace and security that we have.
