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ANZAC Day

'Lest We Forget'-Honouring the fallen soldiers

A map of the two main islands of New Zealand  http://sites.onlinemac.com/kincom/New%20Zealand%20Map.JPEG

 

Abstract

Anzac Day is a day cherished in the hearts of hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders. It was on this day that New Zealanders attempted the impossible of invading the Gallipoli peninsula and gave their lives in the name of New Zealand . New Zealand 's military might wasn't shown on this day, but their courage was. It might be confusing to Americans or any military power in the world why New Zealanders would make a national holiday out of a battle they lost severely. This day represents new Zealand becoming a force in the wolrd, having the strength to fight in a battle they had little chance of winning if any, because it was their duty. So they honor those soldiers, the soldiers that followed them in World War II and Vietnam , and the Soldiers yet to come, because they stand for Courage, Honor, and above all New Zealand .

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A army enlistment picture to try to encourage fellow New Zealanders to enlist.  Similar to the United State's Uncle Sam.  http://www.anzacday.biz/ A ceremony taking place at Wellington to honor the lives of soldiers who gave their lives fighting for New Zealand and Austrailia.  http://images.zacharoo.com/

Introduction

Anzac Day is the day of remembrance for fallen New Zealand and Australian Soldiers who gave their lives for their countries. It stands fir Australian and New Zealand Army Corp and it is celebrated on April 25 th because that is when New Zealand and Australian Soldiers landed on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey and officially entered World War One by helping the Allies fight the Turks. It is quite similar to the United States ' Veterans Day or Memorial Day, but New Zealanders think of it as much more than just a nice day off. “Anzac Day continues to enjoy unusual reverence in a country where emotional public rituals are otherwise absent. It has come to celebrate values that many New Zealanders consider either the distinctive or admirable about their nation- mate ship, unity, courage, self-sacrifice, loyalty- in addition to its traditional commemorative function.” (http://nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/Anzac/Anzacday.html).

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Context of [New Zealand]

New Zealand is a country consisting of several islands located in the South Pacific. It is the largest of the Polynesian island countries and it two main island, the North and South islands, inhabit almost the entire New Zealand population. The capital is Wellington which is located on the North Island . New Zealand was part of the United Kingdom until 1947 when it finally became sovereign. The indigenous people of New Zealand are the Maori. “The ancestors of the Maori were a Polynesian people originating from South East Asia .” (http://history-nz.org/maori.html). The Maori inhabited the island exclusively until the late 17 th century when settlers came from Europe . Not surprisingly, the Maori and the European settlers clashed on many issues. “The most devastating influence was the introduction of previously unheard of diseases such as measles and the common cold. Over half the Maori population was wiped out in a short space of time. Many more succumbed to the influenza epidemic of the early 1900s.” (http://www.whalewatch.co.nz/ourmaori.htm- as told by Bill Solomon, Ngai Tahu, Kaikoura.

  The landscape of the New Zealand is predominantly mountainous and extremely beautiful. It is located near two tectonic plates and experiences frequent earthquakes. The climate in New Zealand is very different depending on where you are because the country stretches so far North and South. The north island is Sub-tropical while the Southern Island is temperate. Since New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, their seasons are switched to ours. Their warmest months are December to March while their coldest are from June to August. http://www.1uptravel.com/international/oceanpacific/newzealand/topography.html .

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Origins of Anzac Day

As soon as news of the attack at Gallipoli reached New Zealand (April 30, 1915), Anzac day unofficially began. New Zealanders felt an immediate sense of national pride even more so honor of the soldiers who fought bravely and gave their lives readily to protect New Zealand and the world.

“ Descriptions of the landings (and casualty lists) were eagerly read, while newspapers gushed about the heroism of the New Zealand soldiers. From the outset, public perceptions of the landings at Anzac Cove were imbued with strong feelings of national pride. The eventual failure of the Gallipoli operation enhanced its sanctity in the public mind; the courage and sacrifice of the New Zealand soldiers in adversity was highlighted.”

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

 

The following year April 5 th was set as the date to honor the soldiers and was later changed to April 25 th .

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Performance

The dawn service that takes place on ANZAC day truly captures the essence of the holiday. There are services all over New Zealand and they all seem to follow some basic guidelines. There is a march led by veterans to the nearest war memorial. During the Ceremony “the Rouse or Reville is played”. “the Rouse or Reveille originated from the bugle call used to wake soldiers in the morning. Today it is associated with the Last Post at all military funerals, and at services of dedication and remembrance. After the one minute of silence, flags are raised from the half-mast to the masthead as the Rouse is sounded”. There is a service held with prayers and hymns, and a reading of the last verse of ‘For the Fallen' by Laurence Binyon; it reads as follows:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

 

Following the services there is a parade led by the veterans but also including “armed forces, the Red Cross, cadets, and veterans of other countries' forces.” http://www.nzhistory.net/nz/Gallery/Anzac/Anzacday.htm . During the parade Wreaths are placed at the local memorial usually decorated with the Red Poppy. The Red Poppy is commonly used in War commemorations: “During the First World War, the red poppies were seen to be among the first living plants that sprouted from the devastation of the battlefields of northern France and Belgium . Soldiers' folklore had it that the poppies were vivid red from having been nurtured in ground drenched with the blood of their comrades.” http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/customs/poppies.htm

The laying of the Wreaths is an essential part of the ceremony because it is a way for New Zealanders to show their gratitude for the fallen soldiers as well as National Pride. Soldiers aren't the only people honored at the Parades however. The returned Service League also pay tribute to service nurses, the unsung heroes of the New Zealand and Australian military. They “honored 100 years of service nursing with a special floral display on Anzac Day….The floral display also featured 500 crosses related to deceased servicemen and servicewomen.” Australian Nursing Journal.

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Artifact

http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/rouse.htm . To hear the Rouse being played at an Anzac Day ceremony click the link above.

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Interpretation

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Prognosis for Anzac Day

Anzac Day is slowly increasing in popularity in New Zealand and Australia over the years. Lieutenant General Peter Cosgrove of the Australian Army Comments:

Anzac day is a crucial remembrance of those qualities and we are really uplifted to see the way in which young Australians don't observe Anzac Day anymore as a duty but as a privilege, and to me if there are a few indicators that we have a tremendous future it is the way young people, not in any jingoistic way but in the reverential and contemplative way, see Anzac Day as their privilege to observe. http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/

 

Not only are crowds increasing at the parades, but the importance is as well. Adults and children alike are excited to attend the ceremonies and don't need to be lured to the celebration with Fireworks and Flashy parades.

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Conclusion

Anzac Day is a time of celebration and somberness to remember the fallen soldiers while embracing the nation's identity and unity. Royal Australian Navy Chaplain Ian Mckendrick said “Lives that are given for what we believe to be important, true and the foundations of our way of life are never wasted,” he adds: “And sometimes it takes war to keep safe what we cherish as the basis of our lives as a free people.” http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1094276.htm . However the day is more than just a time to remember Anzac veterans but a time to celebrate New Zealand 's unity and identity as a independent nation. For New Zealand the 1915 campaign at Gallipoli was their first time joining in a world wide military campaign and a chance for New Zealand to have it's own identity because at the time it was sill under British Rule. That is a big reason why the day is so celebrated even though the battle being remembered was a terrible defeat and thousands of troops died. Anzac Day is a day for New Zealanders to reflect on the sacrifices men and women have given for their country and a time to celebrate the nations unity and own identity.

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Internet References Cited

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Peer-Reviewed References Cited

  • 2002 .(Mills, Alice). The Paradoxes of History in Crew and Woolman's Tagged and Crew and Tan's Memorial . Rethinking History . 6:3 pp. 331-343
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    1999 RSL pays tribute to service nurses . Australian Nursing Journal 6(11) p10

     

    2003 (Rainbird, Paul). Representing nation, dividing community: The Broken Hill War Memorial, New South Wales , Australia . World Archaeology 35(1)

     

    2001 (Withycombe, Robert). Australian Anglicans and Imperial Identity, 1900-1914. The journal of Religious History . 25(3)

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