The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum

"Today is an important day for Australian's and New Zealanders. It marks the 99th  anniversary of the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) landings at Gallipoli. For those who are unaware, the Gallipoli landings were the beginning of a disastrous campaign that claimed the lives of almost nine thousand Australians and almost three thousand New Zealanders on the cliffs and trenches of the Turkish peninsula.

The poorly prepared and untried ANZAC troops were rowed to shore in longboats and landed more than a mile north of their intended positions. Units became mixed up as they moved up into the cliffs that surrounded ANZAC Cove and contradictory orders were given and ignored by the men who climbed the cliffs into Turkish gunfire.

This disorganisation and lack of clear leadership became the hallmark of the Gallipoli campaign. ANZAC lives were thrown away in hundreds of piecemeal attacks against Ottoman trenches and fortifications with little to no gain. Over the eight months, thousands of deaths and tens of thousands more casualties the ANZAC legend was born. To Australians and New Zealanders ANZAC is about the strength, courage and the uniquely colonial camaraderie of mateship that existed amongst those original ANZACs. ANZAC Day is to remember, to thank and to honour all those who served and died, not just in the Great War, but all wars and conflicts."*

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.**


*text written by my historically inclined spouse

**Excerpt from the poem For the Fallen, by Laurence Binyon