Anzac Day History: The Birth of a National Legacy
Anzac Day, observed on April 25th, marks the day when the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. This date has become one of the most significant national days in both Australia and New Zealand, commemorating those who fought and lost their lives during the first major military engagement of World War I involving Australian and New Zealand forces.
When World War I broke out in 1914, both Australia and New Zealand were relatively young nations, eager to establish themselves on the global stage. Their soldiers were tasked with capturing the Gallipoli Peninsula, a strategic move intended to open the Dardanelles to Allied naval forces. The ultimate objective was to capture Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, which was a key ally of Germany.
The Gallipoli campaign lasted eight brutal months, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. Despite the eventual withdrawal of the ANZAC troops, the campaign left an indelible mark, giving rise to the “Anzac legend,” which has since become a cornerstone of Australian and New Zealand national identity.
The first Anzac Day commemorations were held on April 25, 1916, with ceremonies and services across Australia and New Zealand. In Australia, convoys of cars carried wounded soldiers through the streets, while in London, more than 2,000 Australian and New Zealand troops paraded, earning the moniker “Knights of Gallipoli” from a local newspaper. Throughout the remainder of the war, Anzac Day was marked by recruiting campaigns and patriotic rallies, helping to forge a national identity.
By the end of World War I, approximately 60,000 Australians and 18,000 New Zealanders had lost their lives. Anzac Day was declared a public holiday and established as a national day of remembrance. The traditions now associated with Anzac Day—dawn vigils, memorial services, and reunions where veterans would play games of two-up—were solidified by the mid-1930s.
In the aftermath of World War II, Anzac Day also came to honor those who served in the new global conflict. Over the years, its scope has broadened to include all Australian and New Zealand servicemen and women who have lost their lives in military or peacekeeping operations.