Why does a nation pause to remember this day? It is because that day, 25 April, 1915, was the day when Australia as a nation faced the supreme test of quality and courage, the landing on the beach at Gallipoli of Australian and New Zealand soldiers.

 

The Beach at Anzac, Oil Painting by Frank Crozier 1919

When World War 1 began on 4 August, 1914, Australia's Prime Minister, Joseph Cook, made an offer of 20 000 soldiers and ten weeks later, the first contingent of volunteers was on ships bound for Egypt. It was in Egypt that the acronym "ANZAC" was first used as a simple code. As they sailed, a strategy was being formulated to capture the outlet from the Black Sea in order to relieve the pressure on Russian soldiers in the Caucasian and influence Bulgaria to join the Allies.

So the Gallipoli campaign was formulated. On a dark Sunday morning, 25 April, 1915, the soldiers landed in the dark and under heavy fire, climbed steep cliffs covered in prickly scrub and won a foothold on the plateau and ridges. The next eight months saw many feats of courage and bravery on both sides. Apart from the heavy casualties from attack and counter attack, the lines were so close that there was no respite from the heavy bombing, shells and mines.

 

Simpson and his Donkey

Of the many examples of sheer courage, the most remembered must be that of "Simpson and his Donkey". Jack Simpson Kirkpatrick learned all about donkeys on the sands of South Shields as a lad. During his twenty-four days of donkey trips, Simpson single handedly rescued around three hundred wounded soldiers by bringing them down Monash Valley on the backs of donkeys.

On the morning of 19 May, 42 000 Turkish soldiers launched an all-out attack against the 17 356 strong Anzac line, in attempt to drive the invaders back into the sea. The Turks were caught out in the open and lost
3 000 men with 10 000 wounded in repeated attacks over open ground. The Anzacs lost only 168 men. Jack had just collected a casualty and was coming back down Monash Valley when he was hit and killed by a machine gun bullet in the back. He was buried amongst great gloom by the soldiers who had much admired his bravery, and his grave was marked with a simple wooden cross.

 

Walking wounded in Shrapnel Gully, April 26, 1915

Although Simpson was recommended for the Victoria Cross officially on 3 June, 1915, it was denied on a technicality. In July, 1967, the Prime Minister, the Governor General, the Chief of General Staff and other leaders, sent a petition to the British War Office on behalf of the Australian people requesting that a posthumous Victoria Cross be awarded to Private Jack Simpson Kirkpatrick. However this was also denied on the grounds that it would be creating a dangerous precedent.

Finally on 20 December, 1915, the pressures of other areas of the War, led to the evacuation of the survivors of Gallipoli, an event accomplished without further casualties. 7 600 Australians and nearly 2 500 New Zealanders were mortally wounded at Gallipoli and 24 000 more were wounded. Fewer than 100 were taken prisoner. However, it was not so much that Gallipoli with all its hardships, heroics and suffering was any worse than the other wars that Australians have since taken part in, it was that this was the first real test of our country as a nation. And we did not fail!!!

"Anzac stood and still stands for reckless valour in a good cause, for enterprise, resourcefulness, fidelity, comradeship and endurance that will never own defeat. It has become synonymous with the determination and spirit of our armed forces."

So every year on April 25, we have a day of remembrance where we can express our gratitude to all those men and women then and since, who helped keep our country free from invasion; to acknowledge our debt to these men and women, their wives and husbands, mothers and children and our obligation to those who gave their lives to protect our way of life.

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.

"LEST WE FORGET"

In loving memory of my Dad, who courageously survived years of his own particular hell as a P.O.W in Burma in World War II and who loved and believed in Anzac Day and all it stood for, so much!! And he NEVER forgot!!!!!
If you would like to read a true story about the Japanese P.O.W.camps, please click here. This story is NOT suitable for children.