Anzac Day Australia : April 25

Anzac Day in Australia is a national public holiday that occurs each year on April 25. On this date people commerate and honour all Australians who died during, wars, conflicts and peace keeping operations.

 

Anzac stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps whose soldiers were also referred to as "Anzacs". The Anzacs formed part of an allied army during World War I, whose mission was to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey, to open a free passage for the Navy in order to capture Constantinople (nowadays Istanbul). Final objective was to knock the Ottoman Empire, allied to Germany during WW I, out of the war quickly.

 

The troops landed in Gallipoli on April 25 1915. The Allied forces encountered fierce resistance by the Ottomans. Instead of a swift operation, the mission turned in to a lasting battle with heavy casualties for both parties. After 8 months the troops were evacuated from the peninsula.

 

It was the first time that Australia and New Zealand lost so many soldiers in an armed conflict. For that reason the news of the Gallipoli campaign had a dramatic impact on the Australian and New Zealand societies and April 25 became quickly the day to remember the fallen.

 

Although the origin of Australia's remembrance day lies in World War I,  casualties of all conflicts and peace keeping operations are commemorated nowadays. On April 25 dawn ceremonies are held on War memorials and Anzac Day marches are organised across the nation to honour and remember those who left their lives in service of their country.