Anzac Day in Australia

ANZAC day is observed in Australia and New Zealand every year on the 25th of April. The occasion is used for honoring countrymen who laid down their lives in the various wars fought in the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) against the enemies of these two countries over the years. The main war in question is the Battle of Gallipoli during World War I. ANZAC Day is also observed in the Pitcairn Islands, the Cook Islands, Tonga and Niue but it is not observed as a national holiday in Samoa, New Guinea or Papua.

The Meaning of ANZAC Day

ANZAC Day commemorates the first campaign from which major causalities resulted for both New Zealand and Australia. World War I which broke out in 1914 occurred while Australia was a fairly new Commonwealth nation. In a bid to contribute its fair share towards the war, Australia launched an attack on Gallipoli in Turkey. The main aim of the campaign was to capture Constantinople (today Istanbul) but the Australians met an unexpectedly fierce resistance. The result was 8 months of bitter struggle with heavy casualties on both sides and the death of over 8,000 soldiers from Australia and New Zealand. The allied forces finally had to be evacuated in 1915.

ANZAC Day became official in 1916 and was observed in Australia, England and Egypt. More than 2,000 ANZAC troops participated in a parade across the streets of London. The newspapers called them the “knights of Gallipoli”. 60,000 Australians died during World War I and between the 1920s and the 1930s, ANZAC Day was used to commemorate these lost lives.

Post World War II, ANZAC Day included the honouring of those killed in that war as well and over the years, this day included all other wars in which Australia was involved.

The Dawn Service

This particular time is chosen in line with military routine. Dawn and dusk are considered to be a vulnerable time for soldiers on the front when an attack is most likely to occur. Due to this reason, soldiers were roused just before dawn so that they would be ready with their weapons in position by the time dawn broke. This procedure is known as the “stand-to”. This procedure was repeated at dusk. Once the World War I ended, soldiers who returned back missed this comradeship so they continued the practice. Once during this ceremony, a group of solders chanced upon an elderly lady putting flowers on the unfinished Sydney Cenotaph. The soldiers joined her in her little ceremony and later vowed to continue this every year.

Today the Dawn service is carried out with a Stand-To followed by 2 minutes silence, and then the Last Post is sounded on the bugle and finally the Reveille. This is for veterans only. A similar public service for family and well-wishers is held later in the day, attended by the prime minister and the governor-general.