On 25 April, Australia pays tribute to those who have served and died in military and peacekeeping conflicts. Anzac Day initially commemorated members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, during the First World War. The day has been a fixture on the national calendar since 1916.

About ANZAC Day

In the early months of 1915, World War I was raging in most of Europe, including the Ottoman empire in the geographical area that is now Turkey. Russian troops were fighting on many fronts, particularly against troops from Germany and the Ottoman and Austro -Hungarian empires. At dawn on April 25, 1915, forces from France, Great Britain, and the British Empire, including Australia and New Zealand, landed at a number of places on the Gallipoli peninsula. The campaign aimed to open up new fronts for the Allied forces and a trade route to Russia.

In the ensuing battle, many lives were lost on both sides and the Allied forces did not succeed in opening a trade route to Russia. The last ANZAC forces withdrew from the Gallipoli peninsula by December 20, 1915, in a successful operation with very few casualties. In spite of their losses, the ANZAC servicemen and many Australians and New Zealanders saw this battle as the start of the ANZAC spirit. This is an Australasian ideal based on the “mateship” and cheerful suffering the forces showed during this campaign

ANZAC Day is also a public holiday and day of remembrance in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, and Tonga. It is also commemorated with special services and events on or around April 25 in a range of countries across the globe. These include the United Kingdom, France, Turkey, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Canada, and the United States (including Hawaii).