What does Anzac Day mean to you?
The war memorial at Lone Pine, Gallipoli
This year, Anzac Day means just that little bit more to me. It’s not that I ever shunned it – I’ve always felt it was one of the most important days for Aussies and Kiwis, a time to thank our predecessors for the ultimate sacrifice – dying for our country.
However this year I feel I understand it more than ever. Last November I had the privilege of visiting the amazing Gallipoli site in Turkey. This was a particular important pilgrimage, one that was definitely a must-see in the land of ancient ruins, crystal clear waters and the best kebabs in the world.
So what is it about visiting this site that makes you really appreciate the ANZAC legacy? Well if you remember back to school or watched the film Gallipoli with Mel Gibson in it, you probably remember the basic storyline but I’ll give you a refresher:
Most of the men recruited into the Australian Imperial Force at the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914 were sent to Egypt to meet the threat which the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) posed to British interests in the Middle East and to the Suez Canal. After four and a half months of training near Cairo, the Australians departed by ship for the Gallipoli peninsula, together with troops from New Zealand, Britain, and France. The aim of this deployment was to assist a British naval operation which aimed to force the Dardanelles Strait and capture the Turkish capital, Constantinople. More
However things didn’t really go to plan.
First, British and French warships attempted to sail between the peninsula and the Turkish mainland, a stretch of sea which had been heavily mined by the Turks and was commanded by large numbers of gun emplacements. The naval attack was a disaster, many ships being sunk or run aground. The land attack by French, British and ANZAC troops was badly planned, badly directed and made without any proper maps of the area.
(The) errors in range finding and a drifting tide meant that most of the proper landing points were obscured and the troops were going to land in the wrong area. By landing in the wrong areas, there were no pre-prepared plans of attack and the troops were not able to get off the beaches as the cliffs were insurmountable and the Turks were putting up a strong resistance. More
The peninsular
So basically the men who did survive were stuck in trenches for 8 months in all kinds of stinking hot, wet or freezing cold weather with limited medicines and food such as bully beef (the WW1 slang for tinned corned beef which was mostly fat), and hard tack.
When you visit, it becomes all too real how awful it must have been. The trenches are only a matter of metres apart, so close that during truces, troops would exchange food and cigarettes by throwing them across no man’s land. It was examples of this camaraderie that inspired ‘The Anzac Spirit’.
These qualities of the Anzac Spirit cluster around several ideas, including endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour, and mateship. According to this concept, the soldiers are perceived to have been innocent and fit, stoical and laconic, irreverent in the face of authority, naturally egalitarian and disdainful of British class differences. More
The importance of mateship between soldiers and countries was even commented on by Kemal Attaturk, the Prime Minister of Turkey after the war and highly regarded as the Father of modern day Turkey.
“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 now 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.” More
Seeing these trenches, it really hit home how awful the conditions would have been and made me realise that these were young men who were bravely fighting for our country.
For me, Anzac Day is a day to say thank you to all these young men and women who have stood up and fought for our country’s freedom in every war. It’s a time to remember the hardship they endured and to have hope that one day, we won’t feel the need to fight each other.
What does Anzac Day mean to you?
Caitlin
Community Manager
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To me ANZAC Day is a day to honour the sacrifice, say thank you to, remeber and respect those that went before, those that died so that i could have freedom and those that are still fighting that cause. To let the Diggers that are still fightng the same evils as before know that even though they are away from their homes and families they are not forgotten.
To honour our brave soldiers who gave up their lives for us and to those who are still sacrificing overseas.
australian new zealand army corps, god bless them all.
to remember all those who lost their lives fighting for our country
Foolish people that fought an insane battle. May this never happen again. Surely a BBQ on the beach would have been better. Have a safe and happy Anzac Day.
Rememberence
Anzac Day to me is to remember about all the people that died in the war and fought so that we could live in this country called Australia.
I was born on the 24th April – 24 years after my grandfather died on the 24th April in the second world war so today has great significance for our family
Anzac day to me is the rememberance of the men women an children who went through this tradgic time who put their lives on the line so we could live in a great country an for the right of our freedom.
You will not be forgotten an shall always be honoured.
its a day to remember that our freedom which we take for granted comes at a cost for which lives are taken. we should remember what milatary and those who have died for our freedom.
Anzac Day is about respect & admiration for the thousands of men who died & risked their lives to preserve Australian & New Zealand way of life.
Anzac being an acronym for Australian & New Zealand Army Corps.
Anzac day embodies the Australian spirit of mateship, giving and sacrifice, besides being a solemn day of remembrence for all our brave soldiers. It is a day that helps us remember who we are and what we stand for.
Means no more than a public holiday. My Grqandfather was in World War 1 and my father in World War 2 but they never saw teh sense in gloryfying one of the most horrific experiences know to mankind. Their attitude was it is over, we hope no one see what we saw, otr goes through this again. I agree with this.
To all those who march you did what you did and we are grateful, but don’t keep looking for thanks and glory. Let it be a part of history we never want to have to repeat.
I find it unnecessary to fight a losing battle on both sides when the battle had already been fought and won for us by Jesus. Hes the one we should be honouring not all those men who died because they were ill informed lack of knowledge and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. How has their sacrifice helped me or you? I would of still been in the same crappy hopeless situation if it wasn’t for Jesus. We dont celebrate Jesus birth, but his death who was murdered by the Israelites for doing good to all who came in touch with him. His love for his Father was to accomplish what Adam was supposedly should of done, but no, he and Eve thought only of themselves and disobeyed God, (as we so often see and hear about today) That is why you are in a dying world, because you have all inherited Adams sin. That is why man cannot sacrifice his life for us because they cant even save themselves!!! Mankind cant even run a decent govt, Globally our health system? pestilences?unemployment? housing? poverty? and now global recession??? are at its lowest.
Jesus concern love and respect for all of us was to do his Fathers will and that is to lead all of us to Gods Kingdom. Gods Word has the answer that can get us out of this global catastrophy. Luke 21;9-11 Dan 2;44.
What is Gods Kingdom you ask? If interested make a comment.
Anzac Day is a good example of where we human beings deceive ourselves. The speeches are always about valour, courage bravery, defence of our freedom etc. The horror and evil of war is rarely mentioned. Likewise there is very little spoken about the complete stupidity of war as a means of solving disputes. Everything gets sugar coated. For example the invasion of Turkey by Britain, Australia and New Zealand is never spoken of as an invasion of a foreign country. It was a “landing”. Very rarely is there any mention about the number of women raped, of children incinerated – by both sides. It is all bravery etc. etc, like we were talking about a grand final of a football game. I am not denying the bravery and the defence of freedom at least in relation to the Second World War, but it would be nice to have some balance. And if the poor soldiers who had to suffer are to be remembered, what about remembering ALL the disgraceful politicans who deserve condemnation for having started it all.
I am with the other commentors I have read and I too remember those who have fought and died so that Australia is the great country it is today. However I like to remember those who were injured in battle as their lives have been changed completely and each day they must recall how they received their injuries!!!! I do include ALL our troops who have fought for us in ALL conflicts and I especially remember the Viet Vets as that is my era.
Thankyou guys from the bottom of my heart.
Yes, when are the humans, going to get it together, all these wars are useless, and as for honouring anzac day etc, NEVER, and by the way Afghanistan is another Vietnam!!!
Anzac Day is a time to reflect on the past and the future, to thank God for our beautiful country and a time to reflect on the those that fought for our rights past present and the future.
A chance to think about those nurses, airman, soldiers, navy, factory workers, mums & dads, families, doctors everyone that was a part of what makes Australia the place it is today & what it will be for our children & their children.
ANZAC Day to me is a day that I believe should be celebrated on the actual day, be it a week day or weekend. When celebrated all Australia should stop. This includes businesses. The day is to remember an celebrate the supreme sacrifice that our fore-fathers made. Nobody should make a profit from the rememberence we offer. Just like Christmas Day
Any war is a complete waste of life, including civilians. Most of the Aussie an NZ soldiers of WW1 were just boys. They didn’t know what to expect. They only saw joining the army as an adventure which turned out to be a massacre for them. TRAGIC.
It annoys me when we are constantly told that these ANZACS sacrificed their lives so we can have the sort of way of life today that Australians take for granted. What does that mean????
Australia wasn’t under attack in WW1. Actually the Turks and the Germans wouldn’t have even heard of Australia. I believe it was in WW2 that Australian soldiers sacrificed their lives to give us what we enjoy today.
To actually salute thereal heroes of this world that deserve to be called heroes, the word is used to flippantly these days, our men and women that fought for this country should be appaluded they made Australia what it it is today, my father was a POW in WW2 in Italy captured by the Germans, he was the oldest man in his battalion and helped keep his younger men together keep their spirits up knowing what may happen to them, l dont know what happened to them but l know that each one of them were fighting for their country and the lives of the British people, these brave men Australian, New Zealand and Britain are our true HEROES.
Naea, the question is about what anzac means to you, not bring in your religious comment. most wars are started via religion, so obviously jesus died for nothing if it in fact it was true. this war happened as well as others and lives were lost. no proof of what you say has happened, these wars did, religion has its place and its not here
Anzac Day should be Australia and New Zealand’s ”Thanksgiving Day”……. it should be treated with the respect it deserves and recognized as a sacred day to remember the ones who gave their lives so we can live free…… a day of sincere thanks, respected and valued by everyone.
I read some of these comments and some people are just not informed properly. Anzac day isnt about voicing your opinion about fruitless war, it isnt about what side did what and who killed who and politicians or which religion is right. ive served for australia, and been in a war/fight. its not glorfying it, its about birth of a nation on its own back on 25th april. its our becoming of age, its about the good times and being with mates and comaradrie in a terrible situation. you cant cast yr opinions for what was done over the last 100 years. people thr different to now. we still dont learn. whos to say what didnt happen it would be a very different place now.regardless, its about focusing on the fun times in the time of trouble, thinking about all making the wrong decision, but were here now with a bunch of other idiots who made the decision, so lets have the fun times. Be a brother and stand by one another. we all hope it never would happen again, but it will, but help us if it was to happen again, becasue there are to many nancy boys who would rather king hit from behind,than stand beside someone and help them out. To many intellectuals out there who like to analyse and make there comments based on todays philosophies , rather than back in the time when they were made.
I remember mates who had a smile one day, then the next were no longer here…….
Anzac day to me is commenerate the bravery of the men and women who fought in both world wars.People like Simpson and his Donkey,Abert Jacka,Sir John Monash during ww1.Dont forget those brave men who fought at Tobruk against the might of the Africa Korp.And the brave men of the 39th Battalion who were the first who fought the Japanese on the Kokoda track…..so as you can see,Anzac Day means a lot to me….LEST WE FORGET.
Hi anzac day does not mean a thing to me JESUS DIED FOR ALL HIS PEOPLE ,thy shall not kill or steal
The Last Post always makes me cry, it sounds so sad and forlorn. A huge thank you to all our diggers who gave their lives for us. If it wasn’t for them we might be speaking Japanese or something, God forbid! Rest in peace guys!
Lest We Forget.
Anzac Day to me means taking a break from our busy lives to remember all the brave men and women who fought for our great country and to thank them for the freedom we enjoy today. It is also a day to reflect on the terrible suffering caused by war and to try to stop it from keep being repeated. As the saying goes if we put it right out of minds altogether we are doomed to keep repeating the same mistakes.
Anzac day is a time to give thanks to all the soldiers who gave their lives protecting our country, so we can live in peace and harmony, we would not have the life we have if it wasnt for these brave fearless Australians
I think ANZAC Day is a special day when we pause and pay our respects to our Australian and New Zealand Service men & women, during ALL the wars, who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and theirs. And to say to those that have since passed and those that still march today- THANKYOU. I also can’t help but think of the sadness of mothers, wives, children, siblings, mates that lost their loved ones. It is also a day when I pray that it never happens again.
LEST WE FORGET+
I teach a small group of children between the ages of 3 and 1year old. We wanted to honour ANZAC day in a way that meant something to the children and because of the young ages we decided on the following: “On ANZAC day we say thank you to all the people who help the make Australia safe for us to play”. The children made biscuits, Australian flags and cut out pictures from the newspaper of our troops, and of happy smiling faces. We collaged these onto a big sheet of cardboard, and added Australian flag stickers and the poppies that we brought from the RSL stand at our local shops. The children all enjoyed a picnic lunch and proudly wore Australian flag tatoos as we enjoyed our freedom and said thanks to the service men and women.
Naea and all other Biblical lovers, What have they done for you?? YOU HAVE FREEDOM!!! Without the brave men and women who as you say were misinformed you would not have. Don’t blame other people and hide behind biblical statements for your own sad lives. God gave us Free will. That’s all and those fallen brave souls, who gave their lives up for you and me are worth more then what you, me and the other readers and writers here will ever be worth.
Oh, have you heard of CHRISTMAS, that’s when we celebrate Jesus’s birth.
My Grandfather fought on Gallipoli and then France and unfortunately died in 1937 due to lung damage inflicted when he was mustard gassed. My Father fought on Crete and then in the middle East and was wounded by a machine gun.
ANZAC day gives me the opportunity to say a formal thank you for the sacrifice made by ordinary Australians such as these who went to war as young men and returned much older in their minds.
What a different world we would have if not for men and women such as these.
my husband dutchy holland served in the navy during the war years as a sparky morse code on a destroyer ship called nizam. he was a very proud man with his time in the navy in serving his country australia. went every year to Anzac day and marched with his fellow comrades would not miss one of them. i enjoyed going with him to. sadly he has passed away now so it is always a special day for me with my memories of him.
anzac day should be “kokoda day” kokoda was more important for australia the brits frenchies ruskies and italians could have won the war but kokoda was the japanese invasion of australia unlike gallipoli an foreign invasion plus ww1 wasnt even a real war defend your going to die defend ww2 ambush defend scout capture
my dad and all of my uncles fought as anzacs and i loved them all . they told me stories of their time and now i and a few others are the guardians of their memories . what does it mean to me , dad and all my uncles bar one have past away , and i had the privilage to know them as friends . anzac day is a day i get to remember their souls . fine men one and all .
It ranks behind Easter, Christmas and our Queen’s Birthday but ahead of Labor Day
ANZAC day is more than just war, it is a battle against good and evil and evil wants to rule the world and yet good overcame the battle and is not a good procedure if the terrorists take control of the global and will becomes a huge risk to let them do that. more than jsut the battle, my grandfather on dad’s side was a bombardiar but his plane was shot down and he still lives ( now passed away a few years ago). he would never forget the horror of the war and we honor and cherish the ideology of war of disaster and let this be a sign for the future to come and our human races in the future. Lest we forget and NEVER ever forget them.
it is one of the greatest stories told over & over again and as we know it, those who fought for our freedom and paid the ultimate price with their lives Male & Females, as we live on so do their memories and its the memories that form our future to never forget the tradegies of war, as a nation we should always remember the fallen heros who are still unamed and never returned home, lest we forget
not much.
Still should be gazzetted as a public national holiday on monday and be observed withte correct reverence
In 1996 I visited Anzac Cove, at Gelibolu (Gallipoli) and just stood stunned on the foreshore. You could still feel the blood bath and waste of young lives. The cemetry at Lone Pine tells the tale of just awful sorrow: For some reason I have always carried with me words inscribed on two graves: “Too far away your grave to see, But not too far to think of thee” and on the other “A mothers thoughts often wonders to this lonely grave” the soldier was 16 years old! I had been travelling through other parts of Turkey and picked the Red Poppies that symbolise what is sold today for rememberance of this tragic event. The picture of the trench above, is certainly there,all restored to how these men survived – like badgers! Later in my travels in UK at a place called Harefield, a hospital had been built, as this area was known as “dry”. Here the wounded ANZAC soldiers came that mainly had chest complications. There is an 16 century Church at Harefield, and many ANZAC soldiers have been buried there. My father spent 4 years in the WWII, and though passed on now, I always remember him very reluctantly wanting to talk about the war. Therefore ANZAC to me is attempting to remembering the pain, the loss, many young men and women endured through the recklessness of war.
What Anzac day means to me is all the men and women Sacrificed there lives to make the world and Australia a better place. They will never be Forgotten.
Lest we forget
Godbless the Anzacs
Anzac Day means to me a big thank you Anzacs for the war you fought that gave us the freedom we have and know today. Many soldiers, naval, and air men lost their lives to keep our country free. For this I say thank you for giving your life for our freedom. You will always be remembered in my heart
ANZAC day to me is remembering not only my family members who have gone to war but those who also gave their lives to freedom and a way of life they never imagined. I think so many of them would be deeply ashamed if they only knew what was happening in today’s society. Immigrants coming into free countries and demanding the laws and cultural standards be changed because they’re not willing to assimilate into our culture. May we never forget the brave men and women who fought to keep our country safe, our children safe. our way of life safe.
I remember with pride my Grandfather who fought in France in the 1st WW. I remember him telling me of how he arrested the Prince of Wales who he thought was a German spy pretending to be a posh British Officer. How he was also in WW2 as a driver and spent much of the wars early years driving Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey around.
I remember my father Reg who thought he was made to stay home because of his asthma but ended up in Darwin. He was the best dad!
I remember my Uncles Freddie and Vernie as they fought in the Middle East and then in PNG.
I remember my cousin Russell who was very badly wounded in Vietnam but never let it hamper him until his body could not take anymore. He passed away last year (2008). I am proud to satnd for them on ANZAC day.
it means i can march through the city in my uniform and drink till the cows come home in rememberance of those that went before me
As the neice of digger that did not return to his home and family ANZAC day is a day that I say THANK YOU for you the sacrifice that you made so that we can live a more free life style by getting what we need to continue the work that you started THANK YOU
REST IN PEACE UNCLE
To Naea, and everyone else who mentioned religion and Jesus in this topic:
ANZAC Day is an extremely important day in Australian history, and I have no idea why on earth you are brining religion into this topic?
You are very ignorant.
You mentioned that we don’t celebrate Jesus’ birth? We do actually…it is called Christmas day. Quite a big day in our society, I would think.
You are carrying on about God and Jesus, claiming that something you can’t actually see or have evidence for is going to save the world….yet people on here are simply paying tribute and discussing ANZAC Day and what it means to them.
What the ANZAC’s fought for was real, it actually took place. They witnessed dreadful things, they fought for our freedom. Majority of them were teenagers. 78,000 Aussies & New Zealander’s died in WWI.
War is a terrible thing, it is dreadful and the loss of life is tragic, but don’t ever say that what they fought for meant nothing or produced nothing for our country. Take a look around – freedom springs to mind. ANZAC Day is not a day about the glory of war, it is a day to pay respect & honour where it is due…and the ANZAC’s certainly deserve that respect and honour.
You’re here preaching to everyone that Jesus has won the battle for everyone, but the irony is that religion has been the cause of an endless list of wars…many that are still being fought. So as far as I am concerned, this God of yours hasn’t won the battle…he has started them, alot of them.
Learn some respect. If you have nothing to say that is revelant to the actual ANZAC’s, then you should really take a hike.
anzac day means a lot to me i proudly march with my school and wear my grandfathers medals as he was in ww2… he died about 5 years ago… by marching we show our support for all the diggers who fought and are currently fighting for our freedom… this is a very special day and we should show our respect to these heroes… show ur support on ANZAC DAY!!
Absolutely nothing!
“RESPECT” to all soldiers fallen.
to me anzac day is a day 2 pay homage 2 the men and women of both australia and new zealand, who put their lives on the line, 2 preserve the way of life and freedoms that we take for granted 2day, without a thought, that they may never return home,
i often wonder if we were hit with a world war 3, if we would respond in the same way that they did i would like 2 think so,
it is not about the two-up, getting drunk or having the day off work, it is the chilling last post at the dawn service, taking my kids down 2 watch diggers past and present march with pride, watching, grand kids wearing pops medals, marching cause pop has passed away, or cant march anymore, this makes my eyes well up and makes me proud 2 be an aussie, they gave their lives for us, the very least we can do is pay our respects to these brave souls, lest we forget.
To promote and glorify war as a good heroic event that should be worshipped and silly naive idiots like you self go AWE isnt that war hero who cut off a fathers head and blew up a brothers intestines so wonderful! SUCKERS!
If we worshipped peace the same way even half as much things would be alot different.
after 3 of my great uncles fought at gallipoli then they all went onto the western front, anzac day means a great deal to me. In both the 1st and 2nd WW our family only lost 1 of our number and that was at Tobruk.
It is a time of rememberance and reflection for without those that gave their lives to defend this great country, where would we be today and what would we be today?
We’ve been called a country of convicts, but to me we are a country that opens our doors and our hearts to those that need us, we are a giving spirit that will prevail.
whats even more disgraceful is that we convey to kids how heroic and brave war is. Let me tell you it takes far more courage to make peace, thats what to be genuinely brave is, thats where the respect is. War is for cowards who cant fix they’re own problems so they go and take it out on someone else. Yeh thats really brave isnt it. Whats worse is the two-faced christians who bash the bible then fight in the war. I mean, what part of THOU SHALT NOT KILL confuses you?
ANZAC day is the symbol of figthing for freedom and human dignity.The spirit of ANZAC is forever.
LET’ us listen “The Last POST” song before the sun rising.
…THE ANZAC MYTH…is the DESECRATION of the memory of those who fought AND STILL DO FOR FLAWED AND MISGUIDED IDEOLOGIES OF THE STATUS QUO (i.e. HEGEMONIC POWERS GLORIFYING WAR FOR GREEDY ENDS) as demonstrated by the those EMBARRASSING, DISGRACEFUL AND DISRESPECTFUL TOURIST DICKHEADS ON THEIR so-called “pilgrimage” (i.e. PARTY) INTOXICATED by a TRASHY, BLIND, DRUNK AND POISONOUS PATRIOTISM…WHITE TRASH…
to me it is the most important day of the year, it is a chance for all to say thank you to all the extreamly strong and brave australians and new zealands who gave all for there country and for each other, i look forward to getting up at 3:00 in the morning and driving in to the city early so as to get a place near the eternal flame, i was appauled by just how few people actually knew the true reason for anzact day, sure they new it was to do with war and people dying but they did not know the true meaning. it is my dream to be standing on the on fields of lone pine in turkey and watch the sun come up on the 25th of april. from me i say thank you very very much to all the people who are currently in active duty at the moment.
LEST WE FORGET !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Absolutely nothing
my son served in Iraq, my dad was a jap pow in WW11, my grandfather was in Ypres in WW1, and died after the war as a consequence to being gassed. To me, it means helping those who are unable to help themselves, defending the weak, standing by your mates, being free, the Southern Cross.
they gave their lives for us, the very least we can do is pay our respects and fight for what they died for “Freedom”
other than that don’t bother going to stand by there Graves as that is disrespectful and hypocritical
Everyday you give up our freedom to a Masonic controlled world,a world where you have to prove you are not a threat to the masonic order.
Thank you to our ANZACS/Soldiers (and their families), for your ultimate sacrifice, as Jesus Christ said ……..”no greater love has a man than to lay down his life for his friends”. Also, to our Diggers, may His peace and protection keep you always.
Lest we forget.
To honour our fallen heros that were in wars that we were involved in.
To me it about the end of a very pointless war yes WW 1 was started by two small insignificant countries 1000′s dead and for what so that 1000′s of dads would come broken and abusive thus making there kids broken and abusive to and there kid would there kids broken and abusive to ect ect ect
The worst part is that same circle continus today
I am vietnam veteran
Anzac day to me ia a time for reflection,and thoughts for all those who never returned home, close friends of then now lost and memories of being invincible .
.I have a deep empathy for the parents and family of those who never returned , because , they dont have a choice but to bear the pain of loss for the rest of their lives , god bless them all.
Regardless of the reception we got when we returned home , i am fiercely proud to be a returned serviceman , and yes , on reflection , if i had it all over again , i wouldnt change one second .
yes I agree
Freedom to Peaceful protest without
cops beating you to death,
Freedom to your privacy
Freedom to have a government not controlled by Freemasons.
Freedom to smoke without being classed as a third class citizen and for any non-smokers who have comments on this blog and Consider smoker should get a hard time Remember 99% of all Soldiers where and are smokers so disrespect Smoker’s then you disrespect the Dead ANZAC’s they died for your right not to smoke, and for them to smoke
The State War Memorial Kings Park WA info plz
can anyone tell me what the badge under the Sword is
to remember the soldier that died to we can be free to voice our opinions as we see them and not have post deleted for saying the truth
Having lost my dad a month ago today aged 89.
An Aussie bloke who faught for his country to defend it, was a skipper of a warship in his mid twenties, nominated for the Victoria Cross not once but twice! Never got it but like a lot of blokes should have and why? Because amongst other things he went back to rescue the commandoes he’d dropped off because they needed assistance or they would persish.
Didn’t want to surrender so stole a flat bottom barge, put anyone who wanted to go with him on it and navigated by the stars untill found of WA somewhere near Broome. Around 800 went with him I’m led to believe and around 500 survived while being hunted by all forms of enemy forces.
Had a piece of a torpedo in his stomach pressing against his aorta until 1984 when it was removed during heart surgery, but still played squash, went to the gym and kept fit all those years.
During WWII when the doctors opened him up and saw the piece of torpedo, he was told that if they try and remove it it will kill him. So like most Aussies with our guts and determination he asked the doctors to say nothing, stitch him up and let him go back and fight.
Was a Sunday School Teacher before the war but came out believing there can be no god! But I won’t go in to details as to why!
LEST WE FORGET!
But may we all remember why we are here, and why this country is just so great.
It’s because of men like him, not just him, but all the Australians who fought like him to keep Australia a safe place to be, and to live.
I personally thank them all for the country I’ve grown up in!
HAPPY MEMORIES TO ALL WHO REMAIN!
LEST WE FORGET!
My only uncle died in the Vietnam conflict.
Anzac day to our family means we remember Uncle Stan and all the others who laid down their lives.
Not the wars not the politics but the fact so many young men and women believed in something so much they risked and indeed lost their lives for what they believed in.
Lest we forget the….the sacrifice.
For the people who wrote in with religious over tones….There is no greater love than giving your life for another….
To me Anzac Day is about remembering our soldiers in the war who sacrificed their lives for our country. It is also my birthday.
it means nothing at all to me. i want to thro up whenever people heave about it. war is ok but killing people and glorifying murder rape death terroism on innocent people , people who also died and fought off the usa, english , australian terrorists to help protect their families from the western terroists. why celebrate and glorify western terrorists and make them out to be hero’s for killing innocent people?
For me it is a sad sad day when so many young men were uprooted from their own environment and sent away from their loved ones to a war that should have been no concern of theirs; a war that, like all wars, was the product of the madness of men.
For me ANZAC Day is commemorative but also it represents the common prayer of “Let it not happen again” Alas we know that it will, it has. When will it stop? When will humanity stop killing each other?
RIP Diggers. We love you. We are your brothers and sisters.
The Passing Parade.
I always cried when I saw the returned WW1 diggers on TV as a child. They’re not there anymore. Now the WW2 returned servicemen and women are few.
It means having a day off to remember all those soilders who represented our country and New Zealand to fight for our country and dying for our freedom that we have today. Lest We Forget!
To me it is a time to reflect on the the men and women that fought for our country and also the men and women that didnt make it
Tomorrow [ Anzac Day ] this is very special day to say the least for all of us.
Personally a huge thank you to My Grandfather who fought at Gallipoli was wounded there and survived to fight in France to return home in 1919 a broken Man from all he witnessed from both sides of War.
As I know so little about him apart from his War records, he passed away April 1945 such a pity, 10yr before I was born but tomorrow I wear his Medals with Pride and Compassion for all the fallen soldiers Australian & New Zealand services.
I love you Grandad thank you for the Freedom we all have here in Australia & New Zealand RIP
i dont believe in wars i never have im sorry. i feel sorry for all the diggers that lost their lives and their families but they weren’t forced to go to war and fight for our freedom cause we dont have any freedom just look around us????????????????so to me it was a waste of time and lives for nothing.also there is no god either or he wouldnt have taken my son so young.believe if you must but im catholic and NOW i dont believe after attending church for 30 odd years.
I agree with most of the comments that we remember & respect all A.N.Z.A.C ‘s & to those churchies that posted stupid comments , Why bother to even come to this page you morons have some respect for our fallen if it wasn’t for them you would not even be around.
Anzac Day is a day (not weekend) to pay respect to the men and women who fought for our way of life. Who fought for our freedom. To remember the fallen and show our support for the ones who made it home.
Remember
Lest we Forget
Means to me the same to many other australians. appreciation towards the soldiers who fought for this wonderfil country.. btw..
WHY IS JESUS IN THIS TOPIC?!?! its about aussie history…
ANZAC Day is a very emotional time for me because just thinking of all those men and women who fought to save their country. How brave are they.
I served in Vietnam. Anzac Day is to remember all who have served and who have not returned, mates that have passed away since coming home. Anzac Day is Anza Day.
Never celebrate an invasion !
Never celebrate any form of imperialism !
Never celebrate WAR !
Well unfortunately in the town I live in people see it as a day to start drinking at the dawn service and take as much drugs as they can. They just see it as a day where everyone in town is out in the same place and treat it as a town party. It’s absolutely disgusting the amount of fights that occur each year and it’s just getting worse. That’s the reason I chose not to go out last year and sat at home remembering my Great Uncle who was in WW2. ANZAC Day is never going to be the same as when I was a kid where the most exciting part of the day was when I used to be able to participate in the march. That is tainted now by the fact that I know what most people are thinking, ” Get this over and done with so I can get back to the pub/ RSL.”
Anzac Day for me is about remember those who have sacrifice their lives, so that we can live in freedom.
I’m so proud to be an Australian.
ANZAC DAY is to remember all the soldiers past and present but to especially remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice no one could ever imagine what these poor diggers seen over there the least we can do is remember them for what they have done for us LEST WE FORGET
ANZAC DAY to me is to remember all the soldiers past and present but to especially remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice no one could ever imagine what these poor diggers seen over there the least we can do is remember them for what they have done for us LEST WE FORGET
Anzac day doesn’t mean a thing to me. It used to, before this country became a disgrace to the world.
mignon never honour the anzacs how dare you make such a low comment you live in which country those anzacs you say never to show respect to saw shit you could of only had nightmares about what right do you have to take away the respect and honour they deserve and naea this is about anzacs not god so dont preach here there are other more suitable places for that
After the march and rememberance, its nude cricket at Byron Bay. Ausie v Kiwi
Imagine living in a world without Anzacs
Living in a world without their love
Living in a world without their courage
We are living, every Aussie, on their blood
Remember
When we were younger
Just children
How they marched with pride
Each year
And we could see they were something
Special
With their decency, hard work
And good cheer
The World War One ones are near gone now
The Second World War Vets getting old
But as long as memory remembers
Their spirit is vivid
And bold
Remember men who left farms and cities
Men who left families behind
Men who went to bleed and struggle
And tried to take it all in their stride
Men who returned so damaged
But suffered with silence the pain
And always remembered their promise
And gathered each Anzac day
It’s the Reverence I will always remember
How they stayed ever faithful till death
Marching on times long highway
Lest we forget
The wind blew hard
Yet they stood,
or they died on their terms as they chose
And we celebrate a defeat that wasn’t,
When we celebrate those Anzac coves
The men who defeated Australia
Beat its hot hard empty vastness with joy
They, and now we,
Are the Anzacs
Lest we forget…………..
Absolutely nothing at all.
Sucks that we don’t get a public holiday on Monday here in Victoria though.
1)Military objective behind the Gallipoli invasion – capturing Istanbul and knocking Turkey out of the WW1
2)Did someone attack Aus or NZ for them to start invading other countries? – NO
3)Result of Gallipoli invasion – Failure
4)Why is ANZAC day still celebrated? – There’s nothing much Australia-NZ has in their ‘white’ history to celebrate.
5)Does Aus’s current ‘wealthy status’ have anything to do with ANZAC – NO; thanks to the enormous mineral deposits here which we faithfully sell to China and make money, making ourselves ‘wealthy’.
6)Summary of ANZAC day – many Aus-NZ teenagers and youth invaded Turkey as planned by Winston Churchill and as a result got killed.
Just another pseudo-feather to European colonialism!
To me Anzac Day is the reminder of a lesson we STILL haven’t learned – as a nation & global community. The waste of lives & resources was (& continues to be) pheonominal. WAKE UP AUSTRALIA & STOP GLORYFYING THE ATTROCITIES OF WAR!!!!!
At best, a day off work.
These loosers who put comments like. ” Foolish people that fought an insane battle. May this never happen again. Surely a BBQ on the beach would have been better” and “absolutly nothing” you need to take a long hard look at what happened. We cannot change the fact that THEY went to war. These diggers died fighting for our country no matter if you like it or not we should remember and respect them and for gods sake show the respect the diggers deserve .They have died in conflict and remember that Darwin was bombed by the Japanese. LEST WE FORGET.
I remember my Grandfather who in 1917 was shot in the trenches in France when my father was 9 months old. I further remember my Uncle who was shot in the Philipines in 1944 while protecting Australia and New Zealand from a Japanese invasion.. I also remember my father who was in th Navy and served on two ships that were hit by german torpedos and the trips to Flanders in the landing crafts that saved thousands of troups when they evacuated France..And last but not least my memories of Mum who in secret worked for Naval Intelligence and was one of the team who cracked the Japanese codes that stopped the invasion of Australia and created the Battle of the Coral Sea.
I don’t care to celebrate Anzac Day at all. War is wrong and I seriously don’t understand people calling soldiers heroes. Invading another country and killing innocent civilians including children and babies is not heroic! The soldiers in Iraq are not fighting for our freedom, give me a break. They are fighting because the US wants their oil. End of story. Stop glamourising all this killing!
I’ll end on this note. Israeli troops crushed a 5 month old baby to death with their tank. Such bravery…
Anzac day is to show our honor and respect to all the brave people who sacrifice and endanger their own lives for their country and our freedom. People these days look at Anzac day as a reason to go to the pub or to have a day off work and its wrong it is OUR duty to teach our children and all the immigrants that come what it means and how important it is.I am 21 yeaars of age and my mother always told us how important this day was and both myself and my brother attend the local dawn service and every year I will stand there and weep and remember how lucky i am to be standing there with my kids as FREE AUSTRALIANS….and it makes me bloody proud..
Oh and all those people bringing religion into this, they do it because they just can’t help themselves. Bloody chrisitians take any opportunity to preach about jesus. I should know I grew up in a strict baptist home and had it shoved down my throat.
Naea – the bible is full of war just so you know. Go read it again – and not just the nice parts about Jesus.
My grandfather served in France with the 1st AIF, my father in Rabaul with the RAAF and my husband at Vietnam in RAAF I use the time for reflection to remember my grandfather and father who have passed on and to remind myself how much I admire my husband. The biggest fight for him is still ongoing since he came home. I hope our children and grandchildren never forget that the fact we live in a free country is because of men like those in my family.
You are entitled to your opinion, religious people, but you don’t do your religion a favour by dragging it into a discussion where it doesn’t belong. If you don’t have anything to say on the topic, why not have a forum of your own? Woudl you like it if a forum devoted to discussion of your religious beliefs was invaded by people who wanted to rubbish you and talk about something else?
As an ex-serviceman it is our right to honor those who gave their lives ,so that we could have a free Country
and bring our children up to enjoy it as well.
Thank you ever so much men and women of all services for your sacrifice ,then and now and may the
Anzac legend live on
anzac is a day to remember all those who fought for & died for there country . you have my respect REST IN PACE. lest we forget
I think ANZAC day is a really hard time for some people, after losing someone. Just think about all the mothers who’s children went to war not very old and died saving our country, we are so lucky to have had people like that who went to war to make our country a better place. Pay our respect to the brave soldiers who went to war just to save our country. Lest We Forget. May you rest in peace forever.
Anzac Day is a day that all Australians here should be proud to call themselves an Australian. The people who faught for us all in the Wars I and II so we can all have a happy life right now.
Thank-you for saving our country and putting yourself out there!
The inscription, written by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, pays tribute to the ANZACs and reflects his understanding of the cost of war:
“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 far away countries wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. Having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.”
I believe that the Anzacs are brave people. They went to war, and fought for our country. There is no other reason to fight for your country than love. Love families you wish to keep safe and love of your country. Not love of religion! And how could you possibly say that soldiers are not heroes? They did that for their country! and yes war its horrible and very sad but they did that for US. so WE could live life as we do now.
R.I.P Anzacs your legend will live on
I am a retired Turkish officer. My grandfather survived the Gallipoli war. When I was a little boy he was telling me how Anzacs stood and fight instead of running away. He always admired them due to this. He was telling me that many soldiers on both sides of the trenches got familiar with each other and their families as months past by. They were only 15 to 20 meters away from each other. In the past, Turks fought centuries with other nations. They always honored their enemy. And the reason they like the Anzacs due to their breavery. I think Ataturk felt the same way and said those words. Because they were the true heroes to the Turks. I hope our dead Anzac boys stay at home in Gallipoli fore ever like Ataturk said.
anzac day for me is about my grandfathers dying to protect our country against 5 or more countrys austalia, new zealend, greece, england, india i still dont understand how the turks did that but War is never good watch the documentary on Gallipolli and you will see there is nothing heroic about war rip to every soldier that fought for there country