ANZAC DAY

Australians are a relatively new country with a short history, if we exclude the native Aboriginal people.

The Australian Aborigines have one of the longest histories in the world. They have lived in Australia for at least 60 000 years, but scientists have said that evidence suggests that Aborigines have lived in Australia for 100 000 years, while some believe that they may have lived here for 200 000 years.

It is common, however, when speaking of Australian history to, unfortunately,  refer to 'modern', European-related history, the history made predominantly by European-descended Australians.
In recent years the history of the Aboriginal people is being taught more and more, but there is a long way to go yet.

Australians, because they lack a history to rival other nations' history, and probably because they haven't had wars like other nations have had (such as the American War (of Independence)
against the British, the American Civil War, the Greek War of Independence, the French Revolution, the Russian Revolution, and so on), love to make a big thing out of anything that
might make them feel good about themselves.

Take the ANZAC Legend, for example. Primarily this is story to rival any nation's story, with a twist.

ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corp. It refers to those Australian and New Zealand soldiers who voluntarily went to fight, on the side of Britain, against the Turks, in World War I (WWI).

The particular event that has created the 'Legend", is the military campaign at Gallipoli, in Turkey, in 1915.

It started with Churchill's idea to create a new battle front against the Germans, because the Allies were unable to break through German lines on the Western Front and elsewhere. There was stalemate and so a new Front was created.
The idea was to open up a supply line for the Russians through the Dardanelles, to help them in
the war against the Germans and Austrians, on the Eastern Front.
So the Allies (Britain, France etc) planned to redirect their efforts there, and force Germany to do the same, so there would be some relief in the Western Front.
Turkey would be knocked out of the War, the Allies would take over the Gallipoli area, they
would control Constantinople, and would be able to open up a supply route to Russia.

Great plan, if it could work! It did not!

Soldiers who took part in this campaign were mostly from Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand. But it was the Australians and New Zealanders (the ANZACs), who really made history.
Unfortunately it all started terribly. Plans of this campaign had been made public by the British, weeks in advance, so the Turks were prepared! The ANZACs were given wrong information and outdated maps about the landing area. They landed at the wrong place and, of course the Turkish troops were ready for them. When the landing of the ships took place on the early morning (dawn, about 4.30 am) of 25th April, 1915, it was a total disaster. Thousands of ANZACs were killed by Turkish gunfire from the top of the hills, on the coast.
Somehow the landing did take place. What followed was the same as what happened on the Western Front. Fighting and death for the next nine months. Almost 9 000 Australians and many others, died. Thousands more were wounded.
Eventually the British and allied generals realised the futility of the campaign and decided to put an end to it. An evacuation (withdrawal of everyone) took place at the end of November and beginning of December, 1915. Incidentally, this evacuation was the most successful part of the whole Gallipoli campaign, because no one died!!

However the important thing about this story is really that it marked Australia as a nation. It showed Australia could stand up alongside any other country and be counted. It showed Australia was a country with an independent spirit. Its people loved freedom and were prepared to fight for it anywhere.
It marked Australia as a new nation. It symbolised Australia's coming of age. Up to that time it had just followed Britain and had been part of Britain. Australia was an English colony (1788-1901).  
On the 1st of January, 1901, Australia became an independent country; a Federation of six states and two territories. It kept the British monarch as its Head of State, and certain other links, but essentially it was an independent country. Gallipoli was a chance to prove its worth.
Australians volunteered to go to war, to fight away from their homes. They fought just as bravely as any other soldier. They sacrificed their lives for freedom, even though Australia was not really threatened (at least directly).

And so a legend was born about the Australian spirit. A myth was created about the brave, courageous Australian soldiers, and the birth of the Australian spirit. It was not really false because these soldiers did volunteer and so many were killed.
Perhaps the story became a little too big. This was, after all, not a victory! It was really a defeat, a disaster! And yet Australians commemorate it as if there's nothing better to remember. Well...there isn't. It is the only thing we have.

The people most responsible for the promotion of this legend were Charles Bean (official War correspondent, and the official government historian) and a British war correspondent, Ellis  Ashmead-Bartlett. They both sent reports from the Gallipoli Front back home, writing about the bravery
and self sacrifice of the Australians.
At the time Australians responded with great enthusiasm to these reports. The government wanted more volunteers for the war, and it got them with the help of the positive reports of C. Bean and E. Ashmed-Bartlett.

And so every year we commemorate this event. It is not a bad thing. It is good for our history. But it should not be forgotten that many more Australians also fought and died elsewhere during WWI. For example on the Western Front there were many more Australian deaths than in Gallipoli. In recent times moves are being made to redress this imbalnce and recognise the self sacrifice of other Australians too, particularly those on the Western Front, rather than concentrating on Gallipoli at the expense of all other campaigns.

It should be said, however, that the annual ANZAC celebration (or more correctly, commemoration) includes the sacrifices made by all Australians in all wars, including their contribution in the latest wars in East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq.

And so this is the ANZAC Legend.