ANZAC Australia and New Zealand Army Corps
April 25 is ANZAC Day here and in New Zealand. It is a legal Holiday and everyone is off work and school. ANZAC is the Australia and New Zealands day to honor those who have served in the Wars. It is a big thing here. Everyone is so proud of those who have served their country.
Near dawn on 25th of April 1915, forces of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps landed with the British and Franch Forces on the Gallipoli Penninsula. The objective of the operation was to force the Dardenelles by land, capture the Turkish capital of Constantinople (now Instanbul) and relieve German and Turkish pressure on the Russians.
None of these objectives were achieved. By Christmas 1915, not a single living allied soldier remained at Gallipoli, like that from Dunkirk in World Was II, was a brilliant success, but there can be no denying that Gallipoli and Dunkirk were major military disasters.
The Countries however, recognise the courage and fortitude of those at Gallipoli. The failure of the operation lay with the planners, not with the troops assigned to an impossible task. The withdrawal was in a good order, in a maneuver still regarded as one of the most skillfully conducted withdrawals in adverse condition ever attempted.
Gallipoli was the first major campaign in which Australian troops fought as a body under their own commanders and carried the bulk of the operation on their own shoulders.
It can be said that Australia came of age as a nation at Gallipoli. Those who went were all volunteers and believed it was the right thing to do.
Approximately three in every 40 people living in Australia went to war. Three in every 200 people living in Australia died as a result of war. Australia lost 1.5 per cent of its population.
That is a little bit about Australia.
We went to the parade and loved it. I was so mad as I left my camera at home.
As one man standing next to me said at the end of the parade "Now it is off to the Club and Pub".
A smiling blogging come back……
11 years ago
