Everything You Need To Know About Anzac Day

Next year will mark the 105^th anniversary of the Anzac’s landing on the Gallipoli peninsula in the First World War. Each year on the 25^th of April, Australians and New Zealanders, commemorate and pay their respects and honour the fallen. Visiting Gallipoli on Anzac Day is a truly moving and sombre occasion. Attend the Dawn Service, memorial sites and trenches, and see how it shaped both nation’s psyches.

Written by Erin McNeill

Travel Talk Contributor

What is Anzac day?

ANZAC day, 25 April, is one of Australia’s and New Zealand’s important occasions, and marks the anniversary of the first military action fought by Australians and New Zealanders during the First World War.

What does ANZAC stand for?

ANZAC stands for Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. These soldiers were quickly known as the Anzacs, for their bravery and comradery, a name that they took pride in which endures to this day.

What happened?

When war broke out in 1914, Australia and New Zealand were automatically placed on the side of the Commonwealth. In 1915, the allies including the Anzac’s launched a campaign to capture the Gallipoli peninsular to open up the Dardanelle to the allies which would give them direct access to Constantinople (Istanbul), which at the time was capital of the Ottoman Empire and key ally of Germany.

The Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli on April 25, and was met with fierce resistance from Ottoman Turkish defenders.  What was meant to be the battle to knock Turkey out of the war, led to a stalemate which dragged for 8 months. Eventually the allies were evacuated from the peninsula, with both sides suffering massive casualties and hardships.

Why is this day special?

The campaign in Gallipoli had a profound impact on Australians and New Zealanders, with the Anzac Day becoming a day to remember the sacrifice of those who died in WW1.  Despite military defeat, the actions of the Anzac’s left a powerful legacy which is an important part of both nations identities.

How is it commemorated?

Nowadays, Anzac Day commemorates not only the soldiers of WWI, but all Australian and New Zealanders involved in any military & peacekeeping operations, past and present. Commemorative services are held at dawn across both nations, while later in the day former servicemen and service women meet to march through major cities.

Dawn services include Commemorative address, laying of the wreaths, sounding of Last Post, observance of one minutes silence, and the National Anthems of Australians and New Zealanders.

Anzac Day at Gallipoli

Every year, thousands of Australians and New Zealanders travel to ANZAC Cove in the Gallipoli peninsula to pay their respects. Visitors sleep over night at the Anzac Commemorative site for the Dawn Service. This is followed by the Australian Memorial Service at Lone Pine and New Zealand Memorial Service at Chunuk Bair. A truly moving, and once in a lifetime experience, pay your respects at the very site the battle took place.

Travel Talk is a leading operator of Anzac tours for the past 18 years. Our Anzac tours range from 2 to 12 days, with all tours attending the Dawn and Memorial Services in Gallipoli, with the longer tours also taking you to the must-sees in Turkey. Pay your respects to the fallen, attend the dawn service, wander through the trenches and memorial sites and reflect on what they fought for. A moving experience for all Australians and New Zealanders. For more information about our ANZAC tours please click here.

This small cove on the Gallipoli peninsula is where the Anzac (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) troops landed on April 25, 1915. The cove has since become a sacred site and hosts the annual Dawn Service, a moving ceremony that starts in the early hours of Anzac Day to commemorate the fallen soldiers. The natural beauty of the cove, juxtaposed with its historical significance, makes it a poignant spot for reflection.

This site is dedicated to the Australian soldiers who lost their lives in the Gallipoli Campaign. The Lone Pine Memorial honors over 4,900 Australian and New Zealand soldiers with no known graves. The cemetery is named after the solitary pine tree that stood on the battlefield during the conflict. Visiting this site offers a deep sense of the bravery and sacrifice of the troops.

A key location in the Gallipoli campaign, Chunuk Bair was one of the main objectives for the Anzacs. It was briefly captured by New Zealand troops in August 1915 before being recaptured by the Ottomans. The Chunuk Bair Memorial stands here, commemorating the New Zealand soldiers who fought and died in the battle. The view from this vantage point provides a strategic perspective of the terrain that played a crucial role in the conflict.

This narrow ridge became infamous for the brutal and futile charges by Australian light horsemen on August 7, 1915. The Nek Cemetery now marks this battlefield, serving as a solemn reminder of the lives lost in this tragic assault. The cemetery and surrounding area offer insights into the tactical challenges faced by the Anzac forces.