While it’s a sad day for most Australians, this is a day we commemorate with pride.

You probably know the story of the first ANZAC landing at Gallipoli, in Turkey, on 25 April, 1915. If not, you will after you’ve finished with the links later in this post.

Although marking our country’s least successful military endeavour, the date has become synonymous with courage, generosity, endurance, compassion, inventiveness, larrikinism and mateship – traits displayed by Aussie Diggers during the ensuing eight-month long campaign as well as in other campaigns, in other wars.

It was during the Gallipoli campaign that the Aussie character was not so much forged as recognised. Armed with a positive attitude to overwhelming adversity, the highly disciplined Diggers displayed an egalitarian approach to life that contrasted sharply with the class-consciousness of their British counterparts. 

It was the recognition of this, so soon after Federation in 1900, that set Australia squarely on its path to nationhood, largely unfettered by the apron strings of Mother England (give or take the dismissal of a Prime Minister). 

If you click here, you’ll be provided with the background for your perusal of an historically interesting site about the ANZACs at Gallipoli. (Hide the first window to view the site.)