ANZAC DAY - APRIL 25
ANZAC continues to denote a distinctive nationalistic spirit of sacrifice and courage. In New Zealand the word retains its connotation of Australian-New Zealand kinship and in both Australia and New Zealand Anzac Day, on 25 April, is the main day of remembrance for the fallen in all wars.
It is the anniversary of the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli in 1915, where many were to perish. Annual services in remembrance of the loss of life of that Campaign began as early as 1916 and have evolved over time to the observance we know today.

The observance of ANZAC Day as a national day of remembrance began with the first anniversary of the Landing in 1916. Since that time the form of ANZAC Day commemorations have evolved, with subsequent wars and new understandings of the full impact of armed conflict on those who have served their country.

Commemorative services begin before dawn with a march by returned and service personnel to local war memorials where they are joined by other members of the community for a wreath-laying service.

The assault on the Gallipoli Peninsula began on 25 April 1915 in an attempt by Allied Command to weaken the strategic position of Germany, Austro-Hungary and Turkey was the first major involvement by the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

The ANZAC Acronym;

ANZAC is the acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, the formation created in December 1914 by grouping the Australian Imperial Force and New Zealand Expeditionary Force stationed in Egypt under the command of Lieutenant-General William Birdwood.

It was originally proposed the division be called the 'Australasian Corps'. However, both, Australians and New Zealanders felt it would lose their separate identities and this title was not chosen.

The acronym itself is said to have been devised at Birdwood's headquarters by a New Zealand clerk, Sergeant K.M. Little, for use on a rubber stamp and later was taken on as the telegraph code word for the corps.

The ANZAC division made its operational debut at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 and the small cove where Australian and New Zealand troops landed, was designated 'ANZAC'. Before long, the word was used to describe all Australian and New Zealand soliders who fought on the peninsula, and eventually any Australian or New Zealand soldier.

As an adjective the word was soon being used to describe items ranging from biscuits to buttons. Shrewd entrepreneurs saw the commercial advantages of the term, but there was strong popular opposition to such exploitation. On 31 August 1916 the word ANZAC was protected by law and prevented from exploitation for business or trade purposes.
http://www.army.mil.nz/default.asp?C...ay+%2D+Acronym

The story of how the Poppy became an international symbol of remembrance is a remarkable one. To learn more about it, and its significance to New Zealand Armed Forces, visit the Returned Services Association website. http://www.rsa.org.nz/



Other links

http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/Anzac/Anzac.htm

http://www.anzacday.org.au/[/b]

Wanna know something funny? April 25th is also Kim Il-sung's birthday.

Originally Posted by the_13th_redneck

Wanna know something funny? April 25th is also Kim Il-sung's birthday.

*sigh* really? that sucks. oh well, i'm sure my mind won't wander that far at 05:30 april 25th!

Look at the brightside ANZAC day usually carries a lot more respect than Waitangi day.

ANZAC day will be a big day this year. Glad that you posted up a bit of information about it for everyone to read.

hopefully i will be at the shrine for the morning service. that what is planned anyway

i've never missed a dawn service since i started going at age twelve...for five years i was part of the cenotaph honour guard while with the Air Traing Corp.

and hey monty....good to see another kiwi here!

The most moving dawn service I've been too was at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra a few years ago. I want to go the service at ANZAC Cove 1 year, but that won't be for a while though.

Assemble at 0400, start dawn service at 0500, 0830 ANZAC day march, 1200 Laying of the wreaths, 1330 Head to the Union Hotel for drinks..... till late Thats my day in a nutshell.

sounds very similar to my ANZAC days nick.

the dawn service here in dunedin are very interesting.

a/ it's a student town, so you kinda wouldn't expect too many of the students to be up that early....wrong. every year we get more and more people turning up at 0400.

B/ Dunedin is of scottish decent....so we have a REALLY good piper. and robbie burns cannon. it's about the size of a TV but makes the biggest bang i have ever heard.

C/ the Cenotaph Guard. one member of each branch (AF, Army, NAVY) and a Maori warrior in Traditional costume (poor bugger must be SO cold!) i'll try and get a photo to post here.

p.s here is dunedins monument....an italian marble spire




the National monument here is NZ is something else though, it a special bell tower played by a keyboard. here's a pic from when it was opened;

The dedication of the National War Memorial on Anzac Day, 1932

Just over 50 metres tall, New Zealand's only carillon is one of the largest in the world. Its art deco qualities have been recognised by a Category I Historic Places Trust registration. The Carillon's weekly recitals, often commemorating important battles, added a new feature to Wellington life.

(A carillon (pronounced "ká-ri-lon") is a huge musical instrument consisting of at least 23 cast bronze bells, tuned chromatically so that when rung together they produce a wide range of concordant harmonic effects. The bells are hung stationary in a massive steel framework and are struck by cast iron clappers, which are operated by wires attached to a manually played clavier (keyboard).

The carillonist plays by striking the wooden keys of the clavier with loosely clenched fists and by depressing the foot pedals. The sound is controlled entirely by the amount of energy used to strike each bell.

Carillons originated in the Low Countries (now Belgium, The Netherlands and northern France) during the late 1500s. They were used to play a wide variety of music, ranging from simple folk tunes to classical arrangements, popular songs and original carillon compositions. )