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| A German product card with an artwork showing Turkish defenders at Gallipoli. About 250,000 Turks and about 220,000 British led soldiers died during the campaign. |
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| Statue at the ANZAC Bridge in Sydney. |
In 1915 Winston Churchill's disastrous naval campaign in the Dardanelles was followed by an equally disastrous land invasion which began on 25 April. Regardless of the fact that it was a defeat, the campaign was the first major battle undertaken by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), and the date, known as Anzac Day, is the most significant commemoration of military casualties and veterans in both countries.
As has been commented on, the appreciation of the day has grown considerably in the last 20 years. For those who grew up during the Vietnam War period, war commemoration wasn't something that they felt much in the mood for, but that has now changed.
And with all due respect, the forgotten service by the NZ Returned Services Association was only recognised a few years ago. The Merchant Navy. They took the highest loss in % of any service and without the ships and men who sailed them , the troops, armamants and food supplies would never have arrived in both World Wars.
ReplyDeleteI was turned down from joining when I first applied here for membership, dispite being involved in two international hot spots during my time at sea. Now the NZ Merchant Navy Association has its own commemorative day Sept 3rd in UK,Canada , Australia and NZ. The RSA here finally recognised the service -due also to falling numbers in the clubs, and Merchant seaman are welcome. Not before time.