Anzac Day on April 25 is one of the most significant and revered national occasions in Australia and New Zealand. Australian and New Zealand Army Corps is the abbreviation for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. This day commemorates the first significant military engagement fought by these nations during World War I. Anzac Day is a time for Australians to contemplate on the varied meanings of war and to honour those who have sacrificed their lives for their country, as evidenced by the numerous memorial services and monuments available today.
The background of Anzac Day
The 25th of April is the national day of remembrance for war victims and recognition of the role of the armed forces in Australia and New Zealand. This day commemorates the first large-scale military involvement of Australia and New Zealand during the First World War.
The term “Anzac” refers to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. On April 25, 1915, Anzac troops disembarked in Gallipoli, Turkey, according to history. After the invasion of Belgium in 1914, Great Britain declared war on Germany. Australia and New Zealand were required to fight because they were part of the British Empire.
At dawn on April 25, 1915, Allied soldiers began to disembark at Gallipoli. The mission’s objectives were to reach Istanbul, eliminate Turkey from the conflict, and supply Russia against Germany. There were a total of seventy thousand soldiers, approximately twenty thousand of whom were Australian and New Zealand combatants. As daring as this mission was in its entirety, the soldiers were unable to achieve their objective. The mission was delayed for eight months, and by the end of 1915, they had withdrawn.
The first time Anzac Day was commemorated was on October 13, 1915. This celebration was to replace the Eight-Hour Day holiday and took place in Adelaide. The first ‘Anzac Day’ was less of a solemn commemoration and more of a patriotic holiday intended to raise awareness of the soldiers’ efforts and funds.
After heavy casualties on both sides, the Allied Forces retreated. According to reports, 2,700 New Zealanders and 8,700 Australians died. One year later, the military in Egypt, England, Australia, and New Zealand commemorated the first anniversary of the event. George Pearce, the interim Australian prime minister at the time, proclaimed April 25 as “Anzac Day” in the same year. Midway through the 1920s, Anzac Day became a national holiday.
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5 FACTS ABOUT ANZAC DAY
Brave men voluntarily joined the Anzacs to fight for their country.
Only on Anzac Day is the traditional gambling game ‘Two-up’ played in Australia.
Alec Campbell, the last surviving participant in the Gallipoli campaign, died in 2002.
Anzac biscuits were originally square, hard biscuits that became a staple food and even mementos.
During the Gallipoli campaign, the soldiers on both sides ordered a truce for eight hours to bury their dead.
ANZAC DAY DATES
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2023 | April 25 | Tuesday |
2024 | April 25 | Thursday |
2025 | April 25 | Friday |
2026 | April 25 | Saturday |
2027 | April 25 | Sunday |