21 ANZAC Day Facts
ANZAC Day is upon us again, so I thought I’d share some interesting and often unknown facts about ANZACS and ANZAC Day, so others will understand why we honour this national day.
- The ANZACs were all volunteers.
- April 25, Anzac Day, was the day the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915.
- 25 April, was officially named ANZAC Day in 1916.
- The first dawn service on an ANZAC Day was in 1923.
- AIF is an abbreviation for Australian Imperial Force.
- There is no town called “Gallipoli”. It is the name of an area. Visitors to Gallipoli usually stay at nearby towns – like Ecubeat.
- ANZAC Day was not a public holiday in New Zealand until 1921.
- ANZAC Day was not a public holiday in Australia until 1921. However it was not observed uniformly in all the states.
- The Gallipoli Peninsula is very near the famous ancient city of Troy.
- The term ANZAC is protected under Australian law.
- More than 11,000 ANZACs died at Gallipoli and more than 23,500 were wounded.
- Services are held at dawn because in battle, dawn was the best time to attack the enemy. Soldiers would wake in the dark so at the first signs of light they were alert and awake.
- The original Anzac biscuit was known as an Anzac wafer or tile and was part of the rations given to the ANZAC soldiers during World War I. They were included instead of bread because they had a much longer shelf life.
- Anzac biscuits were created by wives of soldier’s who wanted to bake healthy goodies for their men. They lacked egg and milk, so kept for a long time and didn’t spoil during transport.
- The Poppy as a symbol comes from Canadian John McCrae’s WWI poem. In Flanders Fields. It was used as a symbol by the Canadians for their Rememberance Day, and has been adapted as a reminder of the loss of all veterans in all wars.
- The wearing of rosemary on ANZAC Day is done as a mark of respect for the men who never returned from Gallipoli, or indeed, later wars. The wearing of it honours the memory of those brave men.
- The ‘Last Post’ is incorporated into funeral and memorial services as a final farewell and symbolizes that the duty of the dead is over and that they can rest in peace.
- The men who served on the Gallipoli Peninsula created a legend, adding the word ‘ANZAC’ to our vocabulary and creating the idea of the ANZAC spirit.
- In Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands and Niue, ANZAC Day is also commemorated to honour their soldiers who participated to the campaign.
- ANZAC Day is commemorated in France in the towns of Le Quesnoy and Longueval.
- ANZAC Day is commemorated in the village of Harefield in Middlesex just outside of London because of a quirk in history. In 1914, millionaire Sydney expat Charles Billyard-Leake offered his manor home and 250 acres of parkland for injured Australian troops to recoup. It was imagined 50 soldiers in winter, 150 in summer would be catered for. But by the following year and post Gallipoli, it had become a fully-fledged hospital with 1000 beds just for Australian soldiers. More than 50,000 wounded Diggers passed through the home, which became known as Number 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital.
LEST WE FORGET!
28 Responses to “21 ANZAC Day Facts”
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Thank you for reminding me about some facts I had forgotten.
its very good they think of the future for their people and fought for us. LEST WE FORGET
Those people sacrifice their lives because they loved their country. So sad
they were all volunteers and some were young teenagers that got dragged into it so sad
Most Men Fought In The War Because They Wanted To “See The World”. They Followed their mates and it became cool to be in the fight.
My great grandfather lied about his age to fight for this country. Lest we forget.
Thank you very interesting and is helpful because I’m learning about Australian turning points in class ???? will share you website
Its sad to think the people we lost, they made the world a better place to be!
While I knew most of these, thank you for putting them all together in the one place for today.
Loads of interesting facts here
Thank you, your facts are really interesting. They helped me with my homework and helped me remember the soilders who died to kelp us and the families who lost loved ones. We should always remember them and never forget. Lest we Forget.
THANKYOUUUUUU this helped me alot (well sort of) anyway thats good so yeah thnx
good job to all the soldiers
I Especcially hate the people that censore the letter with black ink or scissors
It feels so good that someone was there those times and fought for us our nation like it’s so cool when its Anzac Day I feels so proud.
Thx a lot for the facts really helped me with my homework
This is so sad for the family’s back then. And now people today take advantage of ANZAC day, ‘it’s only just a holiday’ it’s not just a holiday it’s a time for remembrance for the hundreds of solders lost.
There is no town called “Gallipoli” – is incorrect … the Turkish call it Gelibolu.
yea there is town called gallipoli
this website was amazing! thank you
I think that the Anzacs are brave for their contribution to WW2 any one who says other wise are clearly wrong!!!
Thank you a lot! This website really helps me.
Thanks! This website is awesome. Good work, lonetester! Also, LEST WE FORGET to all the brave soldiers who died in WW1.
LEST WE FORGET