Saturday 25 April 2020

Anzac Day, Australia.


Due to the semi lockdown we can't attend the Anzac Day service at dawn, we have been asked to light a candle and go the end of our driveways at dawn.

Some information about Anzac Day which I obtained from the internet.

Today is ANZAC Day in Australia, a day we especially remember service men and women who have served our country. ANZAC stands for Australian New Zealand. New Zealand is not a part of Australia and we here in Australia require a Passport when going to New Zealand.

ANZAC Day – 25 April – 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.

When war broke out in 1914, Australia had been a federal commonwealth for only 13 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 in order to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies. The ultimate objective was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul in Turkey), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany.
The Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Ottoman 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 had been killed. News of the landing on Gallipoli had made a profound impact on Australians at home, and 25 April soon became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in the war.
Although the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives, the Australian and New Zealand actions during the campaign left us all a powerful legacy. The creation of what became known as the “Anzac legend” became an important part of the identity of both nations, shaping the ways they viewed both their past and their future.

Anzac Ceremony:
At the Australian War Memorial, the ceremony takes place at about 5am and or 10.15 am in the presence of people such as the prime minister and the governor general. Each year the ceremony follows a pattern that is familiar to generations of Australians.
A typical Anzac Day ceremony may include the following features: an introduction, hymn, prayer, an address, laying of wreaths, a recitation, the Last Post, a period of silence, either the Rouse or the Reveille, and the national anthem. After the Memorial’s ceremony, families often place red poppies beside the names of relatives on the Memorial’s Roll of Honour, as they also do after Remembrance Day services.

35 comments:

  1. Thanx For Sharing The Knowledge - Much Appreciated

    Cheers

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  2. Thanks for sharing the info, I heard of this day but knew little about it. Have a wonderfu weekend!

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  3. I have sailed through the Dardanelles, and so I can picture exactly the surroundings where this sad Australian sacrifice took place.
    It is a lovely idea that you have all been asked to light a candle at dawn and go down with it to the end of your driveways.

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    1. Several people did go to the end of their driveway Rosemary, it's the first time in just over 100 years that Anzac Day wasn't held in public :)

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  4. It is early here and I am wondering how many in my street will observe the day.

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  5. Nos ha dado una buena explicación, de lo que supone ese día para tu país.

    Besos

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    1. So many people don't know what ANZAC Day means so it was an opportunity for me to inform those that pass my way :)

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  6. I went onto our balcony at 6am to see or hear anything, but it was just the birds twittering as they woke.

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  7. I have heard about it before! Stay safe and healthy everyone ☺

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  8. Thank you for your post, Margaret.

    Anzac Day is always a very special day for me, more than any other day of the year.

    This year Anzac Day may have been honoured differently to other years, but my emotions...my gratitude...my respect to the men and women of our Defence Force, past and present remains the same. My tears are always shed on Anzac Day...and they wee today...Lest We Forget...

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    1. I'm gone when I hear 'The Last Post', that is so haunting but very beautiful to listen to Lee.

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    2. Typo alert...I meant to type "were"...as I am sure you are aware...I hate making typos! Sorry about that...

      Yes..."The Last Post" is haunting...hauntingly beautiful, stirring and so very sad.

      As I mentioned above...I cried many tears...unashamedly, throughout yesterday.

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  9. Our neighbours over the road were outside with a candle and another neighbour next door were the only ones up at dawn, but it was great to be there and so peaceful.

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    1. Didn't see anyone in our street, but that's the way it is.
      Still we remember them.

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  10. thank you for sharing knowledge about special day of your country regarding army services during wars dear Margaret

    reading about war is never easy for me ,i am glad that such wars are not threat to world anymore (for now at least)

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    1. You are welcome Baili.
      Like you I don't wish to hear or see any wars.

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  11. Sorprendente, blog me ha encantado Saludos Cuídese

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  12. It sure was different this year but interesting too.

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  13. Me ha encantado saber más sobre Australia. Muchos besos Margaret.

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  14. Thanks for sharing the information.
    Hope Anzac Day passed well … of course rather different this year.

    All the best Jan

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