15 Facts About Anzac Day

This year marks the 102nd anniversary of the Anzac’s landing on Gallipoli shores to fight the Turkish in the First World War. Every year on the 25th of April, Australians and New Zealanders celebrate Anzac Day and gather to remember and honour the fallen and pay their respects. Visiting Gallipoli on Anzac Day is very much a one of kind experience as you get to attend the dawn service, memorial sites and experience the stunning atmosphere that takes you back in time to an era that has shaped Australia’s and New
Zealand’s history.

Here are 15 facts about Anzac Day, some that are unknown facts about the Anzac’s and Anzac Day.

1. The 25^th April was the day when the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915
2. In 1916, the 25^th April was officially named Anzac Day
3. There is no town called “Gallipoli” however, it is the name of the area. Visitors to Gallipoli usually stay at nearby towns
4. The site where the Anzac’s landed at Gallipoli was renamed Anzac Cove
5. The Anzac’s were all volunteers
6. The first dawn service for Anzac Day was in 1923
7. One of the main causes for the failure at Gallipoli was because the boats that took the soldiers landed at the incorrect area. Instead landing at a beach, they we met with sharp cliffs and continuous bombardments of gunning and shelling from the Turkish soldiers
8. Anzac Day was not a public holiday in New Zealand until 1921
9. The Gallipoli Peninsula is close to the ancient city of Troy.
10. More than 11,000 Anzac’s died at Gallipoli and a further 23,500 were wounded
11. The original Anzac biscuit was known as an Anzac wafer and was part of the rations given to the Anzac soldiers during World War I
12. The men who served on the Gallipoli Peninsula created a legend, adding the word ‘Anzac’ to the Aussie and Kiwi vocabulary and producing the idea of the Anzac spirit
13. The most significant time to remember the Anzac’s is at dawn as this is when the original Gallipoli landing happened
14. The last surviving Anzac was Alec Campbell who died on May 16, 2002
15. The poppy is worn on Anzac Day as a reminder of the soldiers lost in battle

LEST WE FORGET!

Fancy a taking an Anzac Day tour? Travel Talk offer 11 Anzac Day tours ranging from 2 days to 12 days in duration.  You can find out more about these tours.