Fellow Aussies what did you do for ANZAC day?

[riddellcomp]

Do any of you do anything for ANZAC day or just see it as another holiday? I must admit I never used to, I usually went camping. This year I took the wife and kids to the dawn service at our towns memorial park. They were cooking bacon and eggs for everybody for breakfast. It makes you stop and think how lucky we are to live in this great and free country that the ANZACS fought so hard for.

[Jediab]

Being from America I do not know of this holiday. What is it for and what if any are the traditions?

[riddellcomp]

Australian and New Zealand Army Core

Anzac day was originally a day to honour those that fought and lost their lives at Gallipoli on 25th April 1915 however these days we honour all Australians and New Zealands that were killed in any wars.



At the outbreak of the Great War 1914 - 1918, Australia and New Zealand were quick to offer support. Thousands of volunteers enlisted and in early 1915 a force from Australia, and New Zealand arrived on the Greek Island of Lemnos .... On 25 April 1915, the ANZACs landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula (http://www.anzacs.org/gallipolimap1.html).Instead of finding the flat beach they expected, they found they had been landed at an incorrect position and faced steep cliffs and constant barrages of enemy fire and shelling. Around 20,000 soldiers landed on the beach over the next two days to face a well organised, well armed, large Turkish force determined to defend their country . Thousands of Australian and New Zealand men died in the hours and days that followed the landing at that beach. The beach would eventually come to be known as Anzac Cove.

Although not well known around the world (many would not even know Australia was involved), those diggers (A digger is an australian army personel) have given more than their fair share during both World Wars - especially as they had to travel half the world to give it, and they gave it for people who would be unlikely to return the favour. The truth is that Australia has the highest casualty rate in the world, during WW1. That's right. In the world. And all of our boys were volunteers. We volunteered to be slaughtered at a higher rate than any other: 70%, 70%! of our boys were either wounded, killed or lost. Every family was affected, from every town, and that can be seen in memorials all over the country. Someone died from every second family. Think about that.

In all, 100,000 Aussies were killed in wars during the 20th Century. 100,000 dinkum (http://www.australianbeers.com/culture/fairdinkum.htm) Aussies, who were more Australian than the current generation can imagine.

[Mayet]

I watched the dawn services on telly

then about 10 am I was scared out of my wits when a army jet flew over head low enough so i could see the pilot's gold tooth gleaming in the sunlight....

but other than that, Its just another day at hime for me.....with the kids to round up and chase and feed and water and clean...ahhhhhh.... got to love holidays.....

[Platypus]

I don't do anything special mostly, watched quite a bit of the Anzac Day marches on TV. It was church as usual this afternoon, one of our elders was away as he plays clarinet in the town band.

One tradition is the games of "two-up" in Returned Services League clubs, not normally legal as it is a gambling game (a two coin toss). It was popular with diggers.

There are also observances at cenotaphs, and at war cemeteries overseas where Australian and New Zealand soldiers are buried.

Aussie diggers are continuing the tradition of outstanding performance supporting allies in battle, for example the SAS in Afghanistan:

http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1047/story02.htm

It's also not unusual for US folks to not get much information about our place in things, compare this report with the one above:

http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/bulletin/EdDesk.nsf/0/229b87ac33ce2636ca256b79001a73ec?OpenDocument

Jediab, thanks for your interest in this part of our culture. The anzacday.org site is informative:

http://www.anzacday.org.au

http://www.anzacday.org.au/education/tff/images/march.jpg

[riddellcomp]

I don't do anything special mostly, watched quite a bit of the Anzac Day marches on TV. It was church as usual this afternoon, one of our elders was away as he plays clarinet in the town band.

One tradition is the games of "two-up" in Returned Services League clubs, not normally legal as it is a gambling game (a two coin toss). It was popular with diggers.

There are also observances at cenotaphs, and at war cemeteries overseas where Australian and New Zealand soldiers are buried.

Aussie diggers are continuing the tradition of outstanding performance supporting allies in battle, for example the SAS in Afghanistan:

http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1047/story02.htm

It's also not unusual for US folks to not get much information about our place in things, compare this report with the one above:

http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/bulletin/EdDesk.nsf/0/229b87ac33ce2636ca256b79001a73ec?OpenDocument

Jediab, thanks for your interest in this part of our culture. The anzacday.org site is informative:

http://www.anzacday.org.au (http://www.anzacday.org.au/)


Thats an interesting article on the SAS there Platy. Apparently George Bush phoned John Howard only hours after September 11 (Remember he was in Washington at the time.) And asked him if he could use the Australian SAS troops. They are well known for their expertise and courage.

And I have to agree with you about the American media. (No offence to any Americans here) but they do seem to be very one sided on their reporting. All through the Afghani conflict CNN would often make no mention of the SAS involvement when they obviously had a fair bit to do with the outcome.

[Major Kong]

Well from an American I salute and honor those brave souls from Australia and New Zealand who gave their lives away from home.

It sounds very much like our Memorial Day here in the US (May 31st).

And surprisingly enough I know about Gallipoli and the Dardanelles not just what was portrayed in the movie. I read a book some years ago by Alan Moorehead while doing some research on the "forgotten" front of WWI - The War against the Turks. Unfortunately the only thing most Americans know about that "part" of the war comes from the movie Lawrence of Arabia. http://forums.windrivers.com/images/smilies/sad2.gif A very good movie, but it hardly touches on the rest of the Middle Eastern Theater.

As to the comment on the American news media, none taken. A lot of folks here in the US want their news spoon fed to them in sound bytes, headline blurbs, and 10 second video clips. Hence the popularity of USA Today & CNN Headline News. Heaven forbid anybody actually sitting down and really trying to find out what's going on. I live in a country where there is a fair share of folks who are more mesmerized by the Kobe Bryant Rape Case than they are of the events in Iraq and Afaghanistan, or much less in their own backyard.

[Orangeman]

I go to the zoo to feed the kangaroos.... :p

[paraflyer]

A toast to these boys....all memorialized "In Flander's Fields"

http://thetruth.bigpondhosting.com/photos/27393a9e5758896f5898fa7d06e104dc.jpg

Good on ya, mates!

(And yes, I'm an American who knows....)

[Jediab]

Hey thanks for the info. I have the utmost respect for anyone who has fought in any war. So those boys of yours are something thats for sure. I wish I could have been there to give my respects, but since I can't I will give it here. :thumbs: