The Australian: ANZAC Day (Lest We Forget)

The Australian ^ | 25th April 2007

[naturalman1975]

Today is ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand. They day our nations honour our war dead. The most sacred and holy day in our National calendars.

The Australian has put together a series of multimedia pieces in commemoration of the day.

The Anzacs, Villers-Brettoneux, Mapping the Battle (The Second Battle of Villers-Brettoneux), Australian Actions, WWI Victoria Cross, and Gallipoli.

I suspect some people might find them interesting.

[SevenofNine]

Hey NM is consider Aussie version of Memorial day

[Gay State Conservative]

I salute the brave Australian soldiers who have died in defense of their homeland and to protect Western values.However,my uncertainty regarding New Zealand's current willingness to make sacrifices similar to those being made,and having been made,by Diggers makes me reluctant to give the same salute to NZ's recent governments.

Of course,Naturalman or someone else more familiar with that part of the world might want to set me straight.

And yes,I know there was a time when NZ soldiers,too,fought proudly and bravely and sacrificed much.

[SandRat]

GOD Bless You All!

[txzman]

To the country that has always stood by America - Viet Nam included.

Hero’s bump.

[catpuppy]

May we always have such brave friends. None gave more.

[JoeFromSidney]

Eight years ago, while I was teaching in Turkey, I signed up for a tour of Gallipoli and other other historic sites during a school holiday. As it happened, I visited Gallipoli just a couple of days before Anzac Days. The beach was deserted; I was the only visitor in the museum. The Australians and New Zealanders just started arriving the day I left for the next stop on the tour. The whole thing was very interesting. Of course, my guide talked about the battle from the Turkish perspective, but I learned a lot I didn't know. They showed me the alleged spot where Kemal Ataturk missed being killed because the bullet hit the watch in his pocket instead of doing him in.

[Clemenza]

Chocolate Solidiers. Sacrificed on the alter of the British Empire.

Several British senior officers are rotting in hell for what they did to the young Australians and New Zealanders in the Dardanelles.

[Clemenza]

Chocolate Solidiers. Sacrificed on the alter of the British Empire.

Several British senior officers are rotting in hell for what they did to the young Australians and New Zealanders in the Dardanelles.

[naturalman1975]

In my view, New Zealand's military is getting a bit of a raw deal. Their government failed to support the evasion of Iraq. However New Zealand did send troops after the invasion to support rebuilding efforts in Iraq, and is considered by the US government to be a force contributing nation to the war in Iraq. Outside Iraq, New Zealand has made numerous deployments to Afghanistan including deploying its Special Air Service. Unfortunately, in terms of reputation, what the SAS does is generally kept very quiet. But the New Zealand SAS was awarded a US Presidential Unit Citation by President George W. Bush for 'extraordinary heroism' in Afghanistan which seems to strongly suggest that they were certainly doing something worthwhile over there, and two NZ SAS are known to have been wounded. The citation said they engaged in:

"extremely high risk missions, including search and rescue, special reconnaissance, sensitive site exploitation, direct action missions, destruction of multiple cave and tunnel complexes, identification and destruction of several known al Qaeda training camps, explosions of thousands of pounds of enemy ordnance."

New Zealand Defence Force Units have also been active in supporting Australian-lead missions to East Timor and the Solomons, generally forming the second largest contingent after Australia in most of those operations.

Their government is not the best at supporting military action - but their troops are absolutely first rate, true warriors.

[Aussie Dasher]

I was outta bed at 3.30 this morning to get to the Dawn Service.

Feeling a bit weary now...

[Oztrich Boy]

Hey NM is consider Aussie version of Memorial day

(deep breath) technically, but Memorial Day, Veteran's Day and Independence Day combined still don't match.

Anzac Day is the One Day of the Year, the most sacred day on the Australian calendar.

ANZAC Day now promotes a sense of unity, perhaps more effectively than any other day on the national calendar. People whose politics, beliefs and aspirations are widely different can nevertheless share a genuine sorrow at the loss of so many lives in war, and a real respect for those who have endured warfare on behalf of the country they live in.

In 1990 the Australian Government arranged a special one off memorial service at Gallipoli to mark the 75th Anniversary. Ordinary Australians are maintaining that event by attending in thousands every year.

In 2004 the Australian and NZ Governments announced a terrorist advisory on a possible attack at the Gallipoli Dawn service. Despite the innate respect Australian have for authority, numbers attending were not affected

Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours... You the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. Having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well. - Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Kemal, Turkish 19th Infantry Division, Gallopoli

[SevenofNine]

I seee so like three holiday tribute in order Aussie version of Memorial day, Veteran day and Independance day

[SandRat]

Rest Easy Mate, We Remember Too.

[SwinneySwitch]

ANZAC bump.