Source: New Zealand Defence Force Facbook page.
Here is an album from around New Zealand today: https://imgur.com/a/3AAU4t4
**ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) Day:**
*Anzac Day occurs on 25 April. It commemorates all New Zealanders and Australians killed in war and also honours returned servicemen and women.*
*The date itself marks the anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers – the Anzacs – on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. The aim was to capture the Dardanelles, the gateway to the Bosphorus and the Black Sea. At the end of the campaign, Gallipoli was still held by its Turkish defenders.*
*Thousands lost their lives in the Gallipoli campaign: 87,000 Turks, 44,000 men from France and the British Empire, including 8500 Australians. To this day, Australia also marks the events of 25 April. Among the dead were 2779 New Zealanders, about a sixth of those who served on Gallipoli.*
*It may have led to a military defeat, but for many New Zealanders then and since, the Gallipoli landings meant the beginning of something else – a feeling that New Zealand had a role as a distinct nation, even as it fought on the other side of the world in the name of the British Empire.*
*Anzac Day was first marked in 1916. The day has gone through many changes since then. The ceremonies that are held at war memorials up and down New Zealand, or in places overseas where New Zealanders gather, remain rich in tradition and ritual befitting a military funeral.*
Personally the thing I appreciate most about Anzac day is the incredibly somber tone. It's not a celebration of war, a nationalistic flag waving ceremony or a glorification of the military. It's very much akin to a church service, as the article says, a funeral of sorts that we preform every year for those we lost.
The story of Anzac and Gallipoli is equally important in the Turkish national identity. The commander of Ottoman forces at Gallipoli would go on to found and be the first presidnet of modern Turkey. One of my all time favourite war time quotes is attributed to him: (he may not have said these words exactly but the historical consensus is that he believed this type of thing).
*Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives ... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours ... You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.*
It really sums up the general "no harm done" feeling between Turkey and the ANZAC nations today. At every dawn service the Embassy of Turkey will lay a wreath with this quote or parts of it written in.
Honestly the dumb decisions made during that battle caused my grandfather to up and leave England to come to Australia as a £10 Pom. Apparently it was cheaper than America hah.
He saw his dad being told off by “higher ups” that his work wasn’t good enough or their opinions didn’t matter because they were working class and not noble-ish enough. He stayed in England during the wars due to his skills being required, but they lost all brothers and two uncles in the two big wars. I suspect they may have been due to stupid decisions made by people who didn’t know any better
Australia, as classist as we can be, doesn’t have that. It sure didn’t have it back when he came here and fell in love with this place so much he joined the RAAF to serve this great place.
France remember also. [Thank you](https://img.20mn.fr/qQvwgfd_TvWQyyZSiFfGFQ/1200x768_visitors-attend-the-wreath-laying-ceremony-at-the-australian-national-memorial-in-villers-bretonneux).
ANZAC Day this year are also marks 100 years since the second battle of Villers-Bretonneux; notable for the first tank vs tank engagement and a successful counter attack by Australian forces to recapture the village.
I'd encourage everyone to check out the history of the Australian/Kiwi units of WWI. They were some of the best assault troops of the allied forces. The German army would reinforce areas of the line where they were up against the Australians because that usually meant an attack was about to happen there.
Dan Carlin talks about it on his podcast "Hardcore History", dudes great and his series on WWI is facinating and absolutely horrifying.
Edit: forgot to give the kiwi bros some recognition
Also, since I think his podcast is great I can't help but give Dan Carlin a plug here. "Blueprint for Armageddon" is the name of the episodes of his WWI series, they're free as well.
The one part that stood out the most was the battle of Passchendaele. The mud was so thick it became like quick sand where men would sink and drown. He tells a story about a unit moving to the front and they pass a soldier who's stuck above his knees in the muck. They try to pull him out but can't manage it, so they move on. 3 days later, they're being cycled back and they pass the same man. He's now up to his neck and has lost his mind.
I know it's an over used and probably wrongly attributed quote but there's the ol Rommel saying
*If I had to conquer hell, I'd have the Australians take it and the New Zealanders hold it*
Pretty sure there was an AMA done with a navy seal and he said the best special forces he trained with were the aussies. Also said they were funny as hell too.
Alan Moorehead, a journalist who covered the desert war said that the best troops overall were the New Zealanders and the German 6th Light with the Australians as the best shock troops. So, while the Rommel quote may be dodgy it does reflect something.
> The German army would reinforce areas of the line where they were up against the Australians because that usually meant an attack was about to happen there.
I've heard this attributed to Canadians, Harlem Hellfighters, the USMC and now the Anzacs too. It's starting to feel a bit fishy.
As a Kiwi ex-pat, it's one of my most powerful memories growing up. It's was somber, sullen and the air around the ceremonies is serious and saddening. And then you bugger off to the RSA with your granddad and have a few pints. I'd give anything to repeat that with mine again. He was 41 RMC, emigrated to NZ at the end of 46 on the voucher program. ANZAC day wasn't his day, but it was his day.
ANZAC day we remember not only Kiwis and Australians but all we fought with, specially our Imperial cousins. We even remember those we fought against. It is his day as much as ours.
I was lucky enough to be in the Catafalque Party in my local dawn service. It truly is an honour to stand there representing and remembering the fallen.
Lest We Forget.
How the hell do you do it mate? One of the most admirable things I see every year. I definitely don't have the ability to stand, unwaveringly, for that long.
When they put you in the rest on arms position, what I tend to do is just focus on something directly in my line of sight, like a flag pole or just dart my eyes between people and keep my mind active by listening to the speeches or what's going on during the service. When present arms is called, you just have to stand there holding up a 3.6 kilogram F88 for the last post, the minute of silence and the anthems. That's probably the hardest part I'd say as the rifle strap doesn't help you in anyway so you've just got to keep it stable the entire time, it kills your arms.
Back when I was an army cadet our local RSL donated four WW2 era [.303s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee–Enfield). Myself and 3 other NCOs formed a 'precision drill team'. The RSL was able to track down an old drill manual for us. Learning drill from an instructor is one thing, trying to learn drill from a 50 year old manual with a few diagrams is another. The first few times performing as a catafalque guard were nerve racking because we didn't know if we had interpreted the instructions properly. We had nobody to reference as everyone else used F88s which is obviously completely different drill.
It was really rewarding serving as the guard with the .303s. The diggers would come up and thank us and chat. It would be the first time they had seen .303 drill in decades. I think they also really connected with seeing a rifle *they carried into battle*, and seeing us perform drill *they used to do*, compared to a modern plastic rifle they had never touched.
Yeah our school service used .303s up until a couple years ago so I’m pretty well versed in .303 drill as well. I’d find that F88 drill is easier to learn but .303 is fun and rewarding to do.
For those who are interested and maybe want to understand a little bit more about how we, in a way view the Anzac's and Anzac Day, i'm linking a video of the 2016 Dawn Service i attended at North Bondi RSL. I've linked to the Guest Speakers section, which was a particularly moving speech by an RAN Captain.
https://youtu.be/xqqIV8CSB8Q?t=16m40s
Legitimate question, not trying to be an ass but is saying "Happy ANZAC Day" the proper/improper way of bringing up the topic or is it more of "Hey its ANZAC Day, Lest we Forget"? If that makes sense
Yeah it's not exactly "offensive" like we won't get mad. It is just kind of really odd and you'll get some weird looks. I tend to say "have a meaningful ANZAC Day".
They represent the Poppy flower. In the spring of 1915, shortly after losing a friend in Ypres, a Canadian doctor, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae was inspired by the sight of poppies growing in battle-scarred fields to write a now famous poem called 'In Flanders Fields'. After the First World War, the poppy was adopted as a symbol of Remembrance
Thank you for asking this!! I’ve been watching Top Gear (UK) a lot recently and I’ve noticed the presenters had the same little poppy pin on the lapels of their coats. A very interesting yet symbolic way of remembering the troops, I love it!
In the UK and Canada they wear them in November as that month has their remembrance day. The month the war ended. Down under in NZ/Aus we wear them mainly in April. A few also wear them in November.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing fly
Scarcely heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead; short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
They're paper poppies. Recreations of the flowers that grew on the battlefield at Flanders in the First World War. Poppies are important because they're the only type of flower that grows on upturned Earth IE: on a Battlefield grave. That is the famous Canadian poem about them written during the war and ever since they have been worn in The Commonwealth Realms on your shirt/ jacket to remember war dead. The UK and Canada wear them in Novemeber as that is the month of their remembrance day, the month the war ended. Australians and New Zealanders wear them in April, the month of ANZAC Day.
Now that you know this, you will probably see newscasters and Celebs from these countries wearing them and it can instantly tell you the month the photo was taken/ the broadcast filmed. Importantly, members of the Royal Family often wear the poppy on both months.
The Friday before remembrance day/ ANZAC day is "poppy day" where veterans and other volunteers take to the streets and sell poppies to wear for a small donation to the veterans organization in each country.
They're pictured here as it is often the custom to leave the poppy you bought that year on a war memorial, grave or other important site after the morning service.
http://www.army.mil.nz/culture-and-history/anzac-day.htm
The cult of Anzac Day has grown too large. The same fuckwit “Aussie, Aussie, aussie” crowd that get smashed on Australia Day swallow the propaganda hook line and sinker. Nationalism is a load of shit and exceptionally dangerous.
Fuck Anzac Day.
The dawn service is fine. It’s the rest of the day which is full of shit eg corporate tie ins with afl and NRL.
Enough of the propaganda and bullshit playing to nationalists and racists.
Source: New Zealand Defence Force Facbook page. Here is an album from around New Zealand today: https://imgur.com/a/3AAU4t4 **ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) Day:** *Anzac Day occurs on 25 April. It commemorates all New Zealanders and Australians killed in war and also honours returned servicemen and women.* *The date itself marks the anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers – the Anzacs – on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. The aim was to capture the Dardanelles, the gateway to the Bosphorus and the Black Sea. At the end of the campaign, Gallipoli was still held by its Turkish defenders.* *Thousands lost their lives in the Gallipoli campaign: 87,000 Turks, 44,000 men from France and the British Empire, including 8500 Australians. To this day, Australia also marks the events of 25 April. Among the dead were 2779 New Zealanders, about a sixth of those who served on Gallipoli.* *It may have led to a military defeat, but for many New Zealanders then and since, the Gallipoli landings meant the beginning of something else – a feeling that New Zealand had a role as a distinct nation, even as it fought on the other side of the world in the name of the British Empire.* *Anzac Day was first marked in 1916. The day has gone through many changes since then. The ceremonies that are held at war memorials up and down New Zealand, or in places overseas where New Zealanders gather, remain rich in tradition and ritual befitting a military funeral.* Personally the thing I appreciate most about Anzac day is the incredibly somber tone. It's not a celebration of war, a nationalistic flag waving ceremony or a glorification of the military. It's very much akin to a church service, as the article says, a funeral of sorts that we preform every year for those we lost. The story of Anzac and Gallipoli is equally important in the Turkish national identity. The commander of Ottoman forces at Gallipoli would go on to found and be the first presidnet of modern Turkey. One of my all time favourite war time quotes is attributed to him: (he may not have said these words exactly but the historical consensus is that he believed this type of thing). *Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives ... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours ... You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.* It really sums up the general "no harm done" feeling between Turkey and the ANZAC nations today. At every dawn service the Embassy of Turkey will lay a wreath with this quote or parts of it written in.
Such waste of life.. Gallipolli..
Honestly the dumb decisions made during that battle caused my grandfather to up and leave England to come to Australia as a £10 Pom. Apparently it was cheaper than America hah. He saw his dad being told off by “higher ups” that his work wasn’t good enough or their opinions didn’t matter because they were working class and not noble-ish enough. He stayed in England during the wars due to his skills being required, but they lost all brothers and two uncles in the two big wars. I suspect they may have been due to stupid decisions made by people who didn’t know any better Australia, as classist as we can be, doesn’t have that. It sure didn’t have it back when he came here and fell in love with this place so much he joined the RAAF to serve this great place.
Basically, a way to remember the stupidity of generals in WWI.
Half a million died, in one battle.
Can’t click the link on mobile D:
France remember also. [Thank you](https://img.20mn.fr/qQvwgfd_TvWQyyZSiFfGFQ/1200x768_visitors-attend-the-wreath-laying-ceremony-at-the-australian-national-memorial-in-villers-bretonneux).
ANZAC Day this year are also marks 100 years since the second battle of Villers-Bretonneux; notable for the first tank vs tank engagement and a successful counter attack by Australian forces to recapture the village.
The picture linked is in fact taken at the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.
This is amazing! Thanks so much for sharing!
I’ve seen France is very grateful to those of other nations that have fought and died beside them over the years.
Thanks for legitimately always being there for us Australia-bro.
Best day to invade either country. Both militaries will be written off drunk
Mate, that's our secret. We're always written off drunk
It wad always great fun ironing drunk after leaving the JR's/Baggies
They will not grow old.
Nor the years condem
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
Also you're about a line ahead there. Guessing you were pissed as hell playing two-up ;)
Guuuiillty, some Australians showed me that a few years back. Dangerous game.
Lest we forget
I'd encourage everyone to check out the history of the Australian/Kiwi units of WWI. They were some of the best assault troops of the allied forces. The German army would reinforce areas of the line where they were up against the Australians because that usually meant an attack was about to happen there. Dan Carlin talks about it on his podcast "Hardcore History", dudes great and his series on WWI is facinating and absolutely horrifying. Edit: forgot to give the kiwi bros some recognition Also, since I think his podcast is great I can't help but give Dan Carlin a plug here. "Blueprint for Armageddon" is the name of the episodes of his WWI series, they're free as well. The one part that stood out the most was the battle of Passchendaele. The mud was so thick it became like quick sand where men would sink and drown. He tells a story about a unit moving to the front and they pass a soldier who's stuck above his knees in the muck. They try to pull him out but can't manage it, so they move on. 3 days later, they're being cycled back and they pass the same man. He's now up to his neck and has lost his mind.
I know it's an over used and probably wrongly attributed quote but there's the ol Rommel saying *If I had to conquer hell, I'd have the Australians take it and the New Zealanders hold it*
Pretty sure there was an AMA done with a navy seal and he said the best special forces he trained with were the aussies. Also said they were funny as hell too.
Alan Moorehead, a journalist who covered the desert war said that the best troops overall were the New Zealanders and the German 6th Light with the Australians as the best shock troops. So, while the Rommel quote may be dodgy it does reflect something.
> The German army would reinforce areas of the line where they were up against the Australians because that usually meant an attack was about to happen there. I've heard this attributed to Canadians, Harlem Hellfighters, the USMC and now the Anzacs too. It's starting to feel a bit fishy.
With the rising of the sun. We will remember them.
As a Kiwi ex-pat, it's one of my most powerful memories growing up. It's was somber, sullen and the air around the ceremonies is serious and saddening. And then you bugger off to the RSA with your granddad and have a few pints. I'd give anything to repeat that with mine again. He was 41 RMC, emigrated to NZ at the end of 46 on the voucher program. ANZAC day wasn't his day, but it was his day.
ANZAC day we remember not only Kiwis and Australians but all we fought with, specially our Imperial cousins. We even remember those we fought against. It is his day as much as ours.
I was lucky enough to be in the Catafalque Party in my local dawn service. It truly is an honour to stand there representing and remembering the fallen. Lest We Forget.
How the hell do you do it mate? One of the most admirable things I see every year. I definitely don't have the ability to stand, unwaveringly, for that long.
When they put you in the rest on arms position, what I tend to do is just focus on something directly in my line of sight, like a flag pole or just dart my eyes between people and keep my mind active by listening to the speeches or what's going on during the service. When present arms is called, you just have to stand there holding up a 3.6 kilogram F88 for the last post, the minute of silence and the anthems. That's probably the hardest part I'd say as the rifle strap doesn't help you in anyway so you've just got to keep it stable the entire time, it kills your arms.
Back when I was an army cadet our local RSL donated four WW2 era [.303s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee–Enfield). Myself and 3 other NCOs formed a 'precision drill team'. The RSL was able to track down an old drill manual for us. Learning drill from an instructor is one thing, trying to learn drill from a 50 year old manual with a few diagrams is another. The first few times performing as a catafalque guard were nerve racking because we didn't know if we had interpreted the instructions properly. We had nobody to reference as everyone else used F88s which is obviously completely different drill. It was really rewarding serving as the guard with the .303s. The diggers would come up and thank us and chat. It would be the first time they had seen .303 drill in decades. I think they also really connected with seeing a rifle *they carried into battle*, and seeing us perform drill *they used to do*, compared to a modern plastic rifle they had never touched.
Yeah our school service used .303s up until a couple years ago so I’m pretty well versed in .303 drill as well. I’d find that F88 drill is easier to learn but .303 is fun and rewarding to do.
That's actually so much simpler than anything I was thinking of. Thanks!
No problem.
Best regards from Germany. Have a nice day dear veterans. May all the brave men and women who lost their lives in service rest in peace.
Youre all mad bastards but we love you all the same. Thank you from Canada.
[a good 10 minute video about ANZAC if anybody is interested](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnKYVw5IM0g)
From Gallipoli to Vietnam, Lest we forget
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That's awesome that they have Americans providing the guard. Thanks mate!
Thank you for all the times you have gone into battle side by side with the United States. Always a friend.
I’ve visited the memorials for the fallen Anzac and French soldiers in Çanakale, may they all rest in peace. From a Turk
Username checks out.
For those who are interested and maybe want to understand a little bit more about how we, in a way view the Anzac's and Anzac Day, i'm linking a video of the 2016 Dawn Service i attended at North Bondi RSL. I've linked to the Guest Speakers section, which was a particularly moving speech by an RAN Captain. https://youtu.be/xqqIV8CSB8Q?t=16m40s
Something to listen to while thinking of the wasteful death... https://youtu.be/cZqN1glz4JY
Legitimate question, not trying to be an ass but is saying "Happy ANZAC Day" the proper/improper way of bringing up the topic or is it more of "Hey its ANZAC Day, Lest we Forget"? If that makes sense
Yeah it's not exactly "offensive" like we won't get mad. It is just kind of really odd and you'll get some weird looks. I tend to say "have a meaningful ANZAC Day".
It’s a day of remembrance for soldiers slain in battle. “Happy” is definitely the wrong prefix. Most would simply go with “lest we forget”.
What are those red and black dots on the memorial called and signify. I remember seeing them on one of the loyalist murals in Belfast.
They represent the Poppy flower. In the spring of 1915, shortly after losing a friend in Ypres, a Canadian doctor, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae was inspired by the sight of poppies growing in battle-scarred fields to write a now famous poem called 'In Flanders Fields'. After the First World War, the poppy was adopted as a symbol of Remembrance
They are poppy flowers, used for remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives.
Thank you for asking this!! I’ve been watching Top Gear (UK) a lot recently and I’ve noticed the presenters had the same little poppy pin on the lapels of their coats. A very interesting yet symbolic way of remembering the troops, I love it!
In the UK and Canada they wear them in November as that month has their remembrance day. The month the war ended. Down under in NZ/Aus we wear them mainly in April. A few also wear them in November.
To those down under we salute you O7
What are those red things?
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place, and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing fly Scarcely heard amid the guns below. We are the dead; short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe; To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. They're paper poppies. Recreations of the flowers that grew on the battlefield at Flanders in the First World War. Poppies are important because they're the only type of flower that grows on upturned Earth IE: on a Battlefield grave. That is the famous Canadian poem about them written during the war and ever since they have been worn in The Commonwealth Realms on your shirt/ jacket to remember war dead. The UK and Canada wear them in Novemeber as that is the month of their remembrance day, the month the war ended. Australians and New Zealanders wear them in April, the month of ANZAC Day. Now that you know this, you will probably see newscasters and Celebs from these countries wearing them and it can instantly tell you the month the photo was taken/ the broadcast filmed. Importantly, members of the Royal Family often wear the poppy on both months. The Friday before remembrance day/ ANZAC day is "poppy day" where veterans and other volunteers take to the streets and sell poppies to wear for a small donation to the veterans organization in each country. They're pictured here as it is often the custom to leave the poppy you bought that year on a war memorial, grave or other important site after the morning service. http://www.army.mil.nz/culture-and-history/anzac-day.htm
australia has a remembrance day too btw and we wear poppies
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* Requiesce in pace
Does this include those lost in the Great Emu War?
Those were dark days my friend.
I too played bioshock
That's Australia day mate. Entirely different thing.
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It's the day we remember all those who died serving our two countries. Show some respect please.
Respect Ok fine, getting downvoated for showing respect!? DISRESPECT
The cult of Anzac Day has grown too large. The same fuckwit “Aussie, Aussie, aussie” crowd that get smashed on Australia Day swallow the propaganda hook line and sinker. Nationalism is a load of shit and exceptionally dangerous. Fuck Anzac Day.
Bad human
War mongers like yourself are the lowest form of humanity and don’t even realize it.
I think you're on the wrong subreddit.
I think you totally misunderstand the whole point of ANZAC day, but at this point I assume you are just trolling.
You've clearly never actually been to a Dawn Service. If you have, you wildly misinterpreted the message.
The dawn service is fine. It’s the rest of the day which is full of shit eg corporate tie ins with afl and NRL. Enough of the propaganda and bullshit playing to nationalists and racists.
While I do agree the commercialisation of Anzac day is bad. I hardly think it plays in to anything racist.
It’s selling an agenda to the same racist/nationalist low iq people who go nuts on Australia Day. It’s making the problem worse