Anzac Day

commemorate the experiences of Gallipoli and the heroic sacrifices that have been made. It was 4:30am on the 25th of April 1915, this very day, that I landed on the shores of Gallipoli along with 16,000 young men. I had been recruited shortly after arriving to Western Australia in 1911 from England and joined the 16th Battalion, becoming involved on that fateful day. Our troops were unsuccessful in an ambush and bullets were raining heavily down, men falling and stumbling in the dark,…

artists, historians, journalists) create a sense of a shared identity or unity through national images such as public symbols, rituals, stories, books, advertisements, movies, and music. For example, the Australian flag is very prominent during the Anzac Day ceremony which commemorates Australians who served in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations (Carter 2006, p. 12). Furthermore, photographs of Australian cities during…

contributed to the myth around the great Anzac legend. This is due to the stories that have been erased from the truth and more focused on making the whole Anzac legend a positive and important story. In reality, it’s not all that it appears and the genuine truth and representation must be conveyed throughout our nation, instead of romanticising the Anzac story. These values of bravery, mateship, a waste of life and heroism are all crucial themes regarding to the Anzac legend and has undeniably…

can ride, he hopes to enter the Light Horse although he is underage for the military entirely. One day when Archie gets into a heated discrepancy with a man by the name of Les McCann a race is organized between the two, with McCann on horseback and Archie on foot with no shoes. Archie ultimately ends up winning but not without major damage to his feet having ran the entire way barefoot this just days before a festival race. Archie lives with his Uncle Jack who is also his trainer, one night…

failure to honouring strength and courage during times of war, the celebration and remembrance of the Anzacs is a deserved one. From modest beginnings in 1916, Anzac Day has now grown to become Australia's most commemorated day. It wasn’t until the 1920s that Anzac Day came to symbolise a day of commemoration and not until 1927 that all states of Australia had a public holiday. When I was a child, Anzac Day was commemorated at my primary school. I really can’t remember much except that my class…

ladies and gentlemen. I am Ada Mo, a historian from the University of Sydney. The Anzac spirit, or is it a legend, is something that is unique to Australians. We by far spend the most effort in keeping the spirit alive, but for what reason? The legend of the Anzacs was born in the heart of Gallipoli, were many Australian soldiers show great feats of strength, bravery and comradeship during the campaign. The Anzac legend envisions the ideal Australian soldier. Specific stereotypes are set that…

Racism has been a significant issue over the years and continues to be somewhat of a buzzword in todays society. Reginald Walter Saunders is an excellent example of a man who overcame racism in one of the most difficult of circumstances. Saunders was an Indigenous Australian who fought in WWII both for his county and his rights as an Aborigine. He later became known as the first Aboriginal commissioned officer in the Australian army. Throughout his time of service, he made a significant impact…

The two characters are training with different brigades at this time. But one day they come together to do a training exercise but when they see each other instead of training they laugh with joy and mateship. After this incident Frank decides he wants to join the light horse with his best Archy. With a few discussions with officers…

World War I was a time full of despair, it saw courageous soldiers valiantly defend our freedom, leaving anxious families behind to face the prospect that their loved ones may never return. Upon the arrival of the ANZACs in Gallipoli on the 25th of April 1915, the realities set upon the diggers, compelling them to find solace in the luring mateship. As “the only thing that makes battle psychologically tolerable is the brotherhood among soldiers.” Each soldier was an innocent witness to the…

As Australian Citizens, we remember and honour the Unknown Soldier because he represented all the young men of the British empire who were unfortunately killed during the Great War. During World War I, many unknown soldiers sacrificed their life in either killed during battle, due to bombs, lost when ships sink or many more. The burial of an Unknown Soldier honours the memory and sacrifice of those young men and women who laid down their lives for Australia. His tomb reminds Australians of what…