What is ANZAC Day?
ANZAC Day – 25 April – is probably Australia's most important national occasion. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.
(However) ANZAC Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day we remember all Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The spirit of ANZAC, with its human qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity. On ANZAC day, ceremonies are held in towns and cities across the nation to acknowledge the service of our veterans.
What does ANZAC stand for?
ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as ANZACs, and the pride they took in that name endures to this day.
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that 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.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables at home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
Laurence Binyon (1869–1943)
Life is like photography. You use the negative to develop.
I salute all those who have served in your forces and NZ's forces and throughout the world.
A special thanks to those who gave everything.
Thank you all.
IN the school hall, the children sit crosslegged on the floor, listening intently as teacher Miss Baines explains the origins and rules of two-up.
At stake on each toss, several packs of ANZAC biscuits bought from the local supermarket.
Down the corridor and the Year 3 class listen as Miss Penny talks about Gallipoli as they colour in pictures of Diggers and complete World War I puzzles. Next door at 3H, Mrs Holland and her students are making poppies out of cardboard and thread.
It's not an uncommon scene, one being played out in schools across Australia this week ahead of ANZAC Day on Thursday.
But this is Harefield Junior School, in the village of Harefield in Middlesex just outside of London and because of a quirk in history, probably the only school in Britain taking comprehensive lessons in Australian war history.
In 1914, like a TV script from Downton Abbey, millionaire Sydney expat Charles Billyard-Leake offered his manor home and 250 acres of parkland for injured Australian troops to recoup.
It was imagined 50 soldiers in winter, 150 in summer would be catered for.
But by the following year and post Gallipoli, it had become a fully-fledged hospital with 1000 beds just for Australian soldiers. More than 50,000 wounded Diggers passed through the home, which became known as Number 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital; 110 men and one woman nurse died there and were buried in the local village cemetery.
The presence of so many Aussies changed the face of the village forever, the ANZAC tale now so interwoven in its spirit the town emblem, a large steel example of which is seen as you turn into the main drag, has a large hare leaping over a map of Australia.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
More than 50,000 wounded Diggers passed through the home, which became known as Number 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital; 110 men and one woman nurse died there
Wow...
They treated more than 50,000 battle wounded and only lost 110....That's a remarkable record for a hospital of that period...they must have really done damn good work there...
Gallipoli was an extreme test of courage and character and the Australian troops acquitted themselves very well. The people of Oz have a right to be proud of them forever.
I expected to be placed in an air force combat position such as security police, forward air control, pararescue or E.O.D. I would have liked dog handler. I had heard about the dog Nemo and was highly impressed. “SFB” is sad I didn’t end up in E.O.D.
The area is famous for its local hospital, Harefield Hospital, where pioneering heart surgery techniques were developed.
Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub FRS, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at Harefield Hospital (1969–2002), carried out the first live lobe lung transplant, and went on to perform more transplants than any other surgeon in the world.
It is remarkable that a village the size of Harefield is associated with three VC recipients.
Brian Connolly (1945-1997), singer of glam rock band The Sweet grew up in Harefield and Hayes from the age of 12
Rhodes Boyson former Conservative MP
Thomas Egerton, Lord Ellesmere (1540-1617) and wife Alice Spencer (1559-1637) lived in Harefield from 1601; Queen Elizabeth I visited the couple in July 1602
Alexander Fleming (1881-1955), biologist and Nobel Prize winner for the discovery of penicillin, was Regional Pathologist at Harefield Hospital, 1939; this is recorded on a blue plaque at the main entrance door to the Hospital
Politician Charles Newdigate (1816-1887) lived in Harefield, and was buried in Harefield Church, which he had personally spent much money restoring
Judge Sir Richard Newdigate (1602-1678) lived in Harefield, and was buried in Harefield parish church, where a monument was raised to his memory
Thomas Wakley (1795-1862), medical and social reformer, and founder of The Lancet, lived at Harefield Park, 1845-1856; he has a memorial stone in the grounds of Harefield Hospital
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
