Anzac Spirit
The ANZAC Spirit!
ANZAC, a single word so powerful in the Australian vocabulary that it can bring a tear to the eye, a lump in the throat and a feeling of pride, just to be an Australian. A word that brings to mind those other words so uniquely Australian that had their origin in the trenches of Gallipoli in 1915 - Cobber,
Digger, Fair Dinkum, True Blue, Mate.!
!
The ANZAC tradition began on the 25th of April 1915 on the shores of Gallipoli in Turkey. The
ANZACs, a name given to the united Australian and New Zealand Army Corps by their generals were about to participate in war for the first time. 13 years after Australia's Federation their efforts in this, the Great War, would unite our country more than any event had done before then.!
!
They had not been conscripted to join the campaign, they were all fair dinkum volunteers eager to show how brave and strong they were in battle. They had come to help their mother country
England in their war against Germany. They wanted to be involved in all the 'excitement', to travel and be with their mates. Little did they realise the hardships and suffering that lay ahead, for they had been landed at the wrong place and the Turkish army were prepared for them.!
!
2,000 ANZACs would die that first day on the beaches of Gallipoli, more than 6,500 would be killed or wounded by the end of the week in the trenches, gullies and ridges up to one kilometre inland.
Eight long months of bitter fighting against the Turks would follow. 10,000 ANZACs would not return home to their loved ones.!
!
Although their Gallipoli campaign would not result in victory over the Turks, the remarkable bravery and courage shown by the ANZACs during that time would long be remembered. Stories such as their fierce attack at Lone Pine where they fought their way through the logs and mud into the
Turkish trenches and battled the Turks with their bare hands, and reports of the terrible attack at the Nek where wave upon
ANZAC, a single word so powerful in the Australian vocabulary that it can bring a tear to the eye, a lump in the throat and a feeling of pride, just to be an Australian. A word that brings to mind those other words so uniquely Australian that had their origin in the trenches of Gallipoli in 1915 - Cobber,
Digger, Fair Dinkum, True Blue, Mate.!
!
The ANZAC tradition began on the 25th of April 1915 on the shores of Gallipoli in Turkey. The
ANZACs, a name given to the united Australian and New Zealand Army Corps by their generals were about to participate in war for the first time. 13 years after Australia's Federation their efforts in this, the Great War, would unite our country more than any event had done before then.!
!
They had not been conscripted to join the campaign, they were all fair dinkum volunteers eager to show how brave and strong they were in battle. They had come to help their mother country
England in their war against Germany. They wanted to be involved in all the 'excitement', to travel and be with their mates. Little did they realise the hardships and suffering that lay ahead, for they had been landed at the wrong place and the Turkish army were prepared for them.!
!
2,000 ANZACs would die that first day on the beaches of Gallipoli, more than 6,500 would be killed or wounded by the end of the week in the trenches, gullies and ridges up to one kilometre inland.
Eight long months of bitter fighting against the Turks would follow. 10,000 ANZACs would not return home to their loved ones.!
!
Although their Gallipoli campaign would not result in victory over the Turks, the remarkable bravery and courage shown by the ANZACs during that time would long be remembered. Stories such as their fierce attack at Lone Pine where they fought their way through the logs and mud into the
Turkish trenches and battled the Turks with their bare hands, and reports of the terrible attack at the Nek where wave upon