ANZAC+Day

ANZAC Day The 25th of April was officially named ANZAC Day in 1915. It was marked by a wide variety of ceremonies and services in Australia and New Zealand, a march through London, and a sports day in the Australian camp in Egypt. On the 25 April Australians and New Zealanders celebrate the first major military action battle fought by Australian and New Zealand forces, at Gallipoli in Turkey, during World War 1. ANZAC Day is probably Australia's most important national occasion and it marks the anniversary of the action during World War I in 1914. ANZAC day is a day to remember the courage of the soldiers who fought during the Gallipoli battle and the courage and sacrifice of all men and women who have served their country during other times of war, today and in the past. To celebrate ANZAC day Commemorative services are held at dawn across the nation. Later in the day, ex-servicemen and women meet to take part in marches through the major cities and in many smaller centres. Commemorative (dawn) ceremonies are more formal and are held at war memorials around the country. Soldiers, young and old, are ordered to “stand to” and two minutes’ silence is followed. At the end of this time a lone bugler plays the Last Post and then flowers and poppies are laid by the war memorial. Many people wear red poppies to remember ANZAC day. ANZAC day is a public holiday in Australia and New Zealand.

The word ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as ANZACs, and the pride they took in that name endures to this day.