The accidental landing on Gallipoli beach was the birthplace of the ANZAC' (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps). They fought and died together, forever forging a strong bond and ... ]]> On the 25th of April 1915, Australian and New Zealand history changed forever. It was just before dawn on this ill-fated day that thousands of brave young and some under aged men went into battle for their country and their sovreign.

The accidental landing on Gallipoli beach was the birthplace of the ANZAC’ (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps). They fought and died together, forever forging a strong bond and often cheeky banter between the two peoples. Thousands of ANZAC’S did not even make it out of the boats.

As the boats pulled to shore, the Turkish ambushed the un knowing soldiers and many were killed before stepping foot on dry land. Among them were boys aged 14 who had lied about their age so as to enable themselves to join the fight.

ANZAC day was officially named in 1916 and was commemorated by a march through London by Australian and New Zealand troops; it wasn’t however until the 1920’s that ANZAC day had become a nationally recognised day of remembrance in Australia for the 60,000 Australian diggers who lost their lives in the war. In 1927, the entire country stopped to remember those who had fallen. And by the 1930’s ANZAC traditions such as dawn services, marches, two up and going to the pub to remember your mates, had been firmly established.

In 2007 however, ANZAC day has a broader meaning that just that of those who lost their lives WW1, we also remember those who have fought and died in subsequent wars, for example WW2, Vietnam, Korea and even today’s war in Iraq. We also stop to remember those of us who are currently serving overseas in either war duty or peacetime duty. For without these diggers we would not have the freedom we have today.

We as Australians (I can not speak as a New Zealander, as I was not born there) have a lot to be thankful to our diggers for. Because of them, we have the freedom to speak our minds, the freedom to choose our lives and choose to live, and we have the freedom to stop once a day every year to say, hey mate, thanks for what you did, your sacrifice will never be forgotten’.

My family alone had several Anzac’s for which I am extremely proud. One the pops into my mind is my Great Great Uncle Charles. He died on the 9th of September 1918, Killed in Action. He served in the Australian Infantry as a private for four years of the war; he survived the Gallipoli landing and was killed at the age of 19, therefore having joined the fight when he was merely 15 years old. Like so many other heroes of that time, he never grew to see his family again, or to marry and have a family of his own. And it is this sacrifice that pulls at our heart strings every time we hear that bugle play.

So to the diggers of ANZAC, a very humbled thank you. ANZAC day is truly the most important day in Australian and New Zealand history, without you we would be lost.

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

Lest We Forget