MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

• 

  Skip

  Wow!
  
  Actually this year was the centenary anniversary of the landings. Not the 99th.
  
  I, along with over 85,000 Melbournians and my Colombian flatmate, rose before 5am to attend the Dawn Service at the Shrine in soaking rain.
  
  I think 120,000 or more than a quarter of Canberra's population attending the Dawn Service at the National War Memorial.
  
  Probably almost 400,000 Aussies and Kiwis got up before dawn to remember as our ceremonies always start before the sun rises.
  
  Prince Charles, the Turkish president, the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand and the presidents of Ireland and Pakistan all attended the services in Turkey.
  
  Very much an shared international memorial.

  Apr 27th, 2015 - 09:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  -+

• 

  Conqueror

  @1. Very nice for you. Notice that Britain COMMEMORATES the soldiers. It doesn't celebrate.
  
  But may I point out that the article refers to the 99th anniversary of Anzac Day. Anzac Day was inaugurated in 1916. In London, over 2,000 Australian and New Zealand troops marched through the streets of the city.
  
  Shouldn't you at least know how your ceremonies get started?

  Apr 27th, 2015 - 10:30 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  -+

• 

  Rufus

  “Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives
  You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country, therefore rest in peace
  There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours
  You, the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears,
  Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace.
  After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well”
  
  - Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (commander of the Ottoman forces in the Gallipoli campaign, and later the founder of modern Turkey) 1934

  Apr 27th, 2015 - 01:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  -+

• 

  Skip

  They have since changed the article so that it correctly refers to this being the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landings.
  
  As you may have realised the day is called ANZAC Day as it commemorates the first major battle for the newly independent nations of Australia and New Zealand and has become integral to our shared national identities. As these battles had a disproportionate affect on our small populations.
  
  Why would anyone celebrate the anniversary of the first memorial? When it is on the same day as the actual event being commemorated! Makes no sense.
  
  Doesn't matter when the day was created, this year is still the centenary.
  
  I am glad that the Australian tradition of a Dawn Service is now recognised as the appropriate form of commemorating ANZAC Day, even in London together with the traditional British 11am silence from Remembrance Day.
  
  I do indeed know how the ceremonies got started. Australian and New Zealanders started commemorating in 1916 in Australia, New Zealand, Egypt AND London. It was not a British ceremony but an Australian and New Zealand ceremony held in London.
  
  I have visited Gallipoli twice. Once with my English boyfriend and again in 2004 when I stayed up all night to participate in the Dawn Service.
  
  I'm very glad the British commemorate our national day. However it is, and has been for nearly 90 years, the preeminent national day in both Australia and New Zealand.

  Apr 27th, 2015 - 01:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  -+

• 

  Islander1

  Dawn service at the Cross of Sacrifice War Memorial in Stanley as well, quite a few Aussies and Kiwis live in the Islands - and we Islanders remember the way both of those countries have always stood up for us.

  Apr 27th, 2015 - 04:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  -+

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!