Anzac Day
Dawn Service
Sunday 25 April 2010
April 25th — known to all as ‘Anzac Day’ in perpetual tribute to the ‘Australian and New Zealand Army Corps’ of 1915 — is set aside each year to honour the sacrifice of those New Zealanders and Australians who lost their lives in time of war and in the cause of peace.
On 25 April this year, the Australian and New Zealand Embassies will provide an opportunity for reverent reflection of the ‘Spirit of Anzac’ epitomised during the Gallipoli campaign, which is so much a part of the two country’s ethos and heritage.
There will be a ceremony to commemorate Anzac Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Metro Manila commencing at 5.30 am (click here for the map).
The ANZAC Day commemorative service is held at dawn to coincide with the initial landings at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. The darkness breaking into sunrise adds to the symbolism of the occasion and makes for an emotional experience.
Everyone is welcome. Veterans, individuals, schools and families are invited to lay wreaths if they wish.
Please assemble by 5:15 am so the ceremony can begin on time
Breakfast will be served after the ceremony
The significance of Anzac Day
On 25 April 1915, eight months into the First World War, Allied soldiers landed on the shores of the Gallipoli peninsula. This was Turkish territory that formed part of Germany's ally, the Ottoman Empire. The troops were there as part of a plan to open the Dardanelles Strait to the Allied fleets, allowing them to threaten the Ottoman capital Constantinople (now Istanbul) and, it was hoped, force a Turkish surrender.
The Allied forces encountered unexpectedly strong resistance from the Turks, and both sides suffered enormous loss of life.
The forces from Australia and New Zealand, fighting as the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), played an important part in the Gallipoli campaign. These soldiers distinguished themselves with their courage and skill, establishing an enduring bond between the forces of the two young countries.
The Gallipoli campaign was, however, a costly failure for the Allies, who after nine months abandoned it and evacuated their surviving troops. Thousands lost their lives in the Gallipoli campaign: 87,000 Turks and 44,000 from France and the British Empire. This figure included 8,500 Australians and 2,721 New Zealanders, almost one in four of those who served on Gallipoli. The communities they came from had counted the cost in the lengthy casualty lists that appeared in their newspapers.
Although Anzac Day, the anniversary of the first day of conflict, does not mark a military triumph, it does remind us of a very important episode in the history of Australia and New Zealand. Great suffering was caused to the countries by the loss of so many of their young men. But the Gallipoli campaign showcased attitudes and attributes — bravery, tenacity, practicality, ingenuity, loyalty to King and comrades — that helped the two young countries define themselves as nations, even as they fought unquestioningly on the other side of the world in the name of the British Empire.
After Gallipoli, Australia and New Zealand had a greater confidence in their distinct identities, and a greater pride in the international contributions they could make. The mutual respect earned during the fighting formed the basis of the close ties between Australia and New Zealand that continue today.