ANZAC Day
I've been sitting here for days trying to think of a way to describe to you what ANZAC Day is about and I am still at a loss so I will use the words I used in an email the other day and hope that they suffice.
Think of when God created Adam. He made the body, then breathed life into him. That is the ANZAC Spirit. Australia is the body and the ANZAC Spirit is the breath of life.
To an Aussie, the ANZAC Spirit is everything, it is how we live our lives.
| The Spirit of ANZAC was suggested by official war historian C.E.W. Bean to have 'stood, and still stands, for reckless valour in a good cause, for enterprise, resourcefulness, fidelity, comradeship and endurance that will never own defeat.' The Spirit was epitomised in the deeds of Simpson with his donkey at Gallipoli - comradeship, courage and sacrifice: others before self. It also encompasses the laughter, the pride and the love of life that is in every Australian. To really understand this Spirit one must delve back into our country's past. Link |
The first ANZAC Day was officially held on April 25th 1916
| The first service actually took place in Cairo on the anniversary in 1916. There was another in Westminster Abbey and another on the Domain in Sydney - but they weren't at dawn. The Allies had lost 42,000 men and people were shocked. So when ANZAC day was announced as a memorial people simply shut up their shops and watched soldiers marching by. It was not until 1958 ANZAC day became an official holiday. Link |
There are now 533 honoured and not forgotten peacetime service deaths. |
| “It is time, in a united fashion, to record our respect to those who served, who did their duty by their country, to regret that this nation was ungracious in the extreme in the way in which it treated the returning Vietnam veterans and ... to resolve never to behave like that again to people who serve this country in our name ...” *Prime Minister John Howard, August 2005*. |
The Dawn Service observed on Anzac Day has its origins in an operational routine which is still observed by the Australian Army today. The half-light of dawn plays tricks with soldiers' eyes and from the earliest times the half-hour or so before dawn, with all its grey, misty shadows, became one of the most favoured times for an attack. Soldiers in defensive positions were therefore woken up in the dark, before dawn, so that by the time the first dull grey light crept across the battlefield they were awake, alert and manning their weapons. This was, and still is, known as "Stand-to". It was also repeated at sunset. After the First World War, returned soldiers sought the comradeship they felt in those quiet, peaceful moments before dawn. With symbolic links to the dawn landing at Gallipoli, a dawn stand-to or dawn ceremony became a common form of Anzac Day remembrance during the 1920s; the first official dawn service was held at the Sydney Cenotaph in 1927. Dawn services were originally very simple and followed the operational ritual; in many cases they were restricted to veterans only. The daytime ceremony was for families and other well-wishers, the dawn service was for old soldiers to remember and reflect among the comrades with whom they shared a special bond. Before dawn the gathered veterans would be ordered to "stand to" and two minutes of silence would follow. At the end of this time a lone bugler would play the "Last Post" and then concluded the service with "Reveille". In more recent times the families and young people have been encouraged to take part in dawn services, and services in Australian capital cities have seen some of the largest turnouts ever. Reflecting this change, the ceremonies have become more elaborate, incorporating hymns, readings, pipers and rifle volleys. Others, though, have retained the simple format of the dawn stand-to, familiar to so many soldiers. Link |
Australians came together to honour all those who have served in defence of the nation and to participate in the Anzac Day ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.AWM PAIU 2005/067.27
by Hans Reppin
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| Anzac Day I stand proudly, in my uniform i have spent hours on, wearing my slouch hat. I watch our diggers, airmen and sailors walk tall and proud of what they have done for our country and its people. The march down St Kilda Rd to the Shrine of Remembrance has to be one of the best feelings I get. To have the Anzac Spirit all around you, the sound of the band and its pipes and drums playing, the crowd cheering and clapping. It builds from deep inside, holding my chin high, proud of what I’m doing for myself and for my mate next to me. Then you make your way to the Shrine, and The Eternal flame. You are watched by masses, both on TV and in person, many ex-servicemen along with the spirit of those who so bravely lost their lives fighting for the freedom that we have today. Lest We Forget Luke, Army Reservist Being an aussie means everything in the world to me. I am Australian and Australian is me, and Australian is also the ANZAC spirit. The ANZAC spirit will live on forever and will be celebrated forever. I am more than proud to say that I am Australian, and that my grandfather fought in the war for this wonderful country of ours. Long live blue singlets and footy shorts! Ben, Firefighter Research Fire Brigade Being a Aussie is great. Mate it's the best country in the world. It is that way because of the selfless acts of our young diggers, ANZACS, in the great wars. Without their actions, putting their life on the line. We, the next generation would not live the way we do today. Our whole way of life should be dedicated to their courage. The Anzac Spirit..is truly a spiritual being that reminds us too never forget the men and women whom have defended and lost their lives for our country. So when you feel that tingling feeling when the Last Post is being played..I truly believe I've been touched by the Anzac Spirit! LEST WE FORGET! To the all the Aussie, Kiwi & South pacific islander soldiers oversea's not forgetting my brother Shaun in Iraq, my mate Jack and the boys in Timor and my cousin Jason in Afghanistan we are all thinking of you, are proud of you and wish you a safe return home.. BUT MOST OF ALL GOD BLESS & "THANKYOU" FOR DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY! I think the first thing that comes to mind is two up, and remembering those who fought for our freedom! To be honest... before I join the Army I didn't really follow the Anzac Days. If you look at my family military history that will explain it all, as my father's family side were German Waffen SS Officers during World War 2. However the Anzac spirit happen for me in 2006 as that was my first ever Anzac march with my Battalion which I really enjoyed and I'm so amazed with some of the war veterans they still admire the Germans even they fought against them. I like to hearing stories and experience during both World Wars they had. Regards Andreas Anzac day to me means galipoli, my great grandfather fought there, and i guess playing two up and having a few beers! |
| We do not glorify war on Anzac Day. Far from it. We remember the dreadful loss of lives in the many gallant battles fought by those brave young men who stepped forward when called upon to serve their country. Nor are we agressive, but we believe in showing the future enemy that we are so determined to defend our shores that he should think twice before taking on the Sons of Anzac! |
And so, on ANZAC Day as we bow our heads and listen to the immortal words of Laurence Binyon, we will remember...
| 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. |
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