I am always going on about the American vets and have pretty much ignored other countries and their vets….I apologize. The ugliness of war effected more than just Americans…..and ALL vets deserve their recognition.
Today is Anzac Day……25 April
It is their equivalent to the US Veterans Day….an observant of the Great War (WW1)…….a day to honor those that fought and died.
When war broke out in 1914 Australia had been a federated nation for only 13 years, and its government was eager to establish a reputation among the nations of the world. When Britain declared war in August 1914 Australia was automatically placed on the side of the Commonwealth. In 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in order to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies. The ultimate objective was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany.
The Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. What had been planned as a bold stroke to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915 the allied forces were evacuated from the peninsula, with both sides having suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. More than 8,000 Australian soldiers had died in the campaign. Gallipoli had a profound impact on Australians at home, and 25 April soon became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who died in the war.
Although the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives, the actions of Australian and New Zealand forces during the campaign left a powerful legacy. What became known as the “Anzac legend” became an important part of the identity of both nations, shaping the ways in which they viewed both their past and their future.
Source: Anzac Day: Remembering the Soldiers on Unexpected Battlefields | RealClearDefense
Take a few moments and think about the sacrifices that all war veterans make for the country…..they deserve far more than they are given.
I will attempt to rectify my oversight,,,,again I am sorry for my thoughtlessness.
Anzac Day is always well-celebrated in Australia and New Zealand, and rightly so. British forces also lost a lot of men in that campaign, and there was a lot shown about that here, during the 2015 centenary.
Best wishes, Pete.
Every time I read about that campaign I just cannot believe how badly it was run……chuq
Churchill was behind a lot of the mistakes, but managed to ride out the political storm after. A classic example of underestimating and disregarding a foreign enemy. We did the same thing in Singapore, in 1941.
Winston had to resign after Turkey right? Singapore was a major screw up in ’41…chuq
He left as First Lord of the Admiralty, but stayed in politics. Singapore remains as the great ‘shame’ of the British Army.
A very meaningful day for them just as Memorial Day is for us. You might want to put it on your calendar.
I have already done just that…..chuq