Anzac Day is very important to Australians, young and old.
To defend the Commonwealth our newly federated nation sacrificed almost an entire generation of young men. In just eight months of battle in Gallipoli we lost over 8,000 men and New Zealand lost 2,700.
Australia and New Zealand have not had to fight for independence nor suffer the ravages of a civil war but for both our nations WI was our ‘blood letting’.
While Federation in 1901 made our group of colonies one, the sacrifice made during Gallipoli and WI forged our nation and gave us a camaraderie still present today.
I would like to pay homage to these men and women by compiling images and words found on red bubble to commemorate Anzac Day this year, Friday April the 25th, 2008. Lest we forget!
ANZAC Day – 2 by Phil Ryan
Lest We Forget by Kimbaross .........Pop on Anzac day by Alyson Pearson
Memories of Tobruk by Boadicea
Anzac Digger by Marilyn Brown
Rememberance Day – 11th November 2006 by Michael Franchi
We shall remember them by cdwork
Ghost of the Anzacs by alexkess
There are many excellent Anzac images to view
Here is also a selection of writings that capture the sentiment of this special day.
Lest We Forget by Sarah Donoghue
They shall not grow old,
As we who 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.
Lest We Forget
Anzac Day - A tribute in images and words.
A homage to those who are prepared to defend us by their willingness to make the supreme sacrifice.
Marion Chapman, 5 months ago
Marilyn – this is superb!!!
Ozcloggie, 5 months ago
The first book I ever read, in Australia was Requiem for a Wren by Neville Shute. Helped me to understand how Australians experienced those times.
Ozcloggie, 5 months ago
However…..getting a feeling of how Anzac Day was celebrated I understood better, once i started teaching in 1964. Drew this to help the pupils focus, on the school’s ceremony, in 1966.
....at Riverstone Primary. Schools can play a big role in passing on the message.
Jo
Terry Krysak, 5 months ago
God bless the ANZAC’s
Canadians also remember too.
Here is an excerpt I found on the net;
The Newfoundland Regiment – it became the Royal Newfoundland Regiment in December, 1917 – was formed within days of the outbreak of the War in August 1914. The famed First Five Hundred – all 537 of them – sailed to England aboard the FLORIZEL on 4 October 1914 – just two months later. Less than a year after that, in the fall of 1915, they were at Gallipoli, fighting alongside their British, Australian and New Zealand comrades in what proved to be a doomed campaign against a determined opponent. Newfoundlanders died at Gallipoli, and Newfoundlanders are buried there. Our Regiment still parades and holds a church service each April, to mark ANZAC day, the anniversary of the first landings in Gallipoli. The Regiment left Gallipoli early in 1916, among the very last troops to withdraw. After a brief stay in Egypt, they were sent to Europe, to the Western Front. They fought there, in northern France and Belgium, for the rest of the War.
Marilyn Brown, 5 months ago
ANZAC DAY is the day to remember all men and women who have fought for and died in defending their nations and hope that these sacrifices one day will not have to be made.
Martin Derksema, 5 months ago
Great initiative to post this. Thanks for enlightning me on a part of Australia’s history.
judithtaylor, 5 months ago
thank you for including me in your ANZAC day tribute
I am honoured
Alyson Pearson, 5 months ago
Exellent tribute and I’m honoured that you have chosen one of my pieces.
xo
Boadicea, 5 months ago
Thank you Marilyn. I am honoured that you chose one of my pieces for your very moving tribute. Your thought in doing this is exactly what ANZAC day is all about.
Dave Aarons, 5 months ago
Excellent work
templar, 4 months ago
Thanks for including me amongst such great work from some very talented people.