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Another day in history passes. On April 25th for Australia and New Zealand, it is ANZAC Day. ANZAC Day is probably Australia's most important national occasion. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as ANZACs, and the pride they soon took in that name endures to this day.
When war broke out in 1914 Australia had been a federal commonwealth for only 14 years. The new national government was eager to establish its reputation among the nations of the world. In 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula to open the way to the Black Sea for the allied navies. The plan was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul), the capital of the Ottoman Empire and an ally of Germany. They landed at Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Turkish defenders. What had been planned as a bold stroke 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 after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Over 8,000 Australian soldiers were killed. News of the landing at Gallipoli made a profound impact on Australians at home and 25 April quickly became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in war.
Although the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives of capturing Constantinople and knocking Turkey out of the war, the Australian and New Zealand actions during the campaign bequeathed an intangible but powerful legacy. The creation of what became known as the "ANZAC legend" became an important part of the national identity of both nations. This shaped the ways they viewed both their past and future.
For me I reflect about what it means to me. Even though I was not touched by it personal, there are family members who were and many more people as well.
I was touched in a sense as I never got to meet my grandfathers. Both of them went off to war, one never came home, and one came home to never be himself again, and unfortunately died due to injuries that he acquired while at war. This left both of my grandmothers to bring up their families on there own. And if I don’t mind say they did a exceptional job
Why is it that we need to keep repeating history? Why do we have to keep losing men and women to war? Will there ever be a time in any life, as I don’t see it in my life time, which we learn that fighting doesn’t solve anything.
I live in hope that one day this will happen, that one day I will know that my ancestors will not have to worry about the threat of war, or hope that they will never have to loose a love one to war.
But to those men and women that have already fallen, Thank you, thank you for making my world the world it is. Thank you for allowing me the right to live in peace. Thank you for giving you life for me.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
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.
Lest we forget
We Will remember them
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