The Characteristics Of Anzac Soldiers In The First World War

The Gallipoli campaign impacted Australian society in many ways. This includes; the great loss of young men, changes in traditional women’s roles in the community and how Australia was recognised as a worthy country by Britain and other parts of the world. World War 1, otherwise known as the Great War, began on the 28th of July 1914 and continued until the 11th of November 1918. Countries such as Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire battled against Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Japan and the United States. When the war was over, the Allied Powers claimed their victory.

Additionally, the Australians began to commemorate the events that occurred in Gallipoli. The pride in the Australian soldiers was strengthened due to the Australian troops fighting on the Western Front. Commemorations to show reverence continues to be held for the 63 163 Australians who were killed in the war and also for the surviving soldiers. Today and in the future, there needs to be a shared focus on both the Gallipoli and Western Front campaigns in these commemorations as the Australian soldiers who fought dauntlessly, endured the hardships and sacrificed themselves had a vital role to play in the victory of the Allies in the war and the freedom of Australia

Ww1 IS regarded as one of the significant and fundamental event in history. It occurred due to the assassination of the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire on 28 June 1914(Stephen Tonge). The countries were divided to two main powers called ‘Central power’ where German and Austria were included and ‘Allied power where England and Russia and Australia fought for the mother country England .One 25 April 1915, Australia sent troops to Gallipoli to fight against Turkish .But accidently they landed at the amiss place which made them suffer from the under fire, and the ANZAC legend was generated there. Although there was no military victory, the Australians displayed great courage, mateship and endurance. The stories of these qualities are the proof of ANZAC legend’s undoubtable accurate portrayal of Australia’s fighting men in WW1.

World War One was not just about the Germans and Russians. But It was the also about those solider who died serving for Australia during the Battle of the lone pine, which we all known as the Anzac today. The Gallipoli Campaign, which happened in 1915 and finished in 1916. It lasted for eight months and two weeks. Gallipoli Campaign had been a bad experience in the Australian War History. After they had fought for almost a year. Anzac was withdrawn from that Gallipoli Campaign. In this essay I’m going to explain about the reasons for the battle, the role of Australian soldiers and the how about how important was the contribution of Australian soldiers in the battle.

When the war broke out in 1914, Australia was a country who had federated only 13 years prior. Although the government was keen to support the British Motherland (Cook, 1914), WW1 was a time of change for how the Australian society viewed their own identity. What happened at Gallipoli is well known and the courage, determination, and mate-ship demonstrated by the soldiers helped to form Australia’s new identity. The ANZAC legend and the values associated with it continue to shape the way many Australians view themselves and have become an important part of our national identity. The war brought in a new sense of nationalism and helped Australians form this idea of coming together as one country fighting a large battle as a whole. On the 2nd of July, 1915, Galway said “If any day is to be chosen for Australia’s day I think it should be April 25 . . . Those heroes will hand down the finest traditions to their sons and their sons’ sons, and still further on . . .” (Galway, 1915) which showed how majority of Australian society viewed the significance of the events that took place at Gallipoli and how the fight would be remembered in the hearts of Australians forever. The impact of WW1 on Australia’s growing society is present when focusing on how it defined the countries national identity. The Great war brought attention to many significant events in Australia’s

15th of August 1914 the first imperial force was formed, then on the 25th of April 1915 parts of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) arrived at Gallipoli

Pozieres, France, July 1916, The Australian Imperial Force suffered roughly 23,000 casualties. On the 20th and 28th December 1917, two conscription plebiscites failed. These dates are two of the main reasons why the AIF allowed indigenous individuals to register. Indigenous Anzacs were mostly seen present in Gallipoli. Stationed in the Western Front and the Middle East. Although there is no actual evidence of how many indigenous Anzacs there really was.

The meaning of the Anzac legend has changed overtime as it has been disputed and altered with the way people interpret the different events of World War One. This has become specifically apparent in recent years due to the 100 year anniversary of the Gallipoli landing with many debating whether Gallipoli was the most significant event in world war one. During world war one there were many battels on the western front that are if not more significant than the Gallipoli campaign, such as the battle of Hemel’s that in addition to Gallipolis bravery and sacrifice there was superb Australian military planning, perfect execution and great successes. 2 The landing at Gallipoli is by far the most celebrated aspect of Australia’s campaign in the First World War with many Australians even tying their national identity to the campaign though in comparison to numerous battels on the western front it was a minor failed campaign.

As Australians, we all know of the Gallipoli Campaign, and to a certain extent the events that occurred, although there are still many uncertainties surrounding it. To properly commemorate the Campaign, first we must understand what really occurred on those shores, years go.

Australian history, preceding 1915, lacked the theme of clear national purpose; there was a ‘nation defying’ emphasis on our interwoven foundation with Britain. This dependence, as a newly federated nation, created an ideological restriction for our national identity, which was merely a continuation of Britain’s history. However, the Anzac Campaign, as the first major military operation Australia participated in, coalesced values exhibited by the diggers to produce the Anzac tradition. The Freeman’s Journal’s (find author) primary insight exemplifies this interpretation, through declaring “we were Australian in name…[but] were nothing better than a joint in the tail of great Empire…Anzac Day has changed all that”. Furthering this, the Australian Official War Correspondent, Bean portrayed the Anzac narrative as an outward reflection of an ethos of “mateship”, “egalitarianism” and “larrikinism” in a process of cultural

While originally the word ANZAC was the acronym for the ‘Australian and New Zealand Army Corp’ who fought in World War I, it has over the years taken broader application. Source 1 depicts a photo of a World War I digger soldier where the artist tried to depict the ANZAC legend as one with a look “…of something between fear and defiance which we have all seen so often, and which will always remain in my memory as typical of our gallant old cobbers ‘the Diggers’.” Men returning from war after both World War I and World War II were viewed as national heroes and greeted by parades. Source 2 depicts an image of ANZAC veterans on ANZAC Day in Brisbane, Queensland in 1922 greeted by a crowd of thousands.

We talk about the ‘landing’ of the Anzacs at Gallipoli as though it were only one day. 25 April was the first day, but the process of landing and the initial fighting to secure as much land as possible really lasted for several days. There were heavy casualties on the first day, but the worst fighting and greatest casualties came as the Turkish defenders counterattacked. An estimated 2300 Australians were killed in the Anzac area up to 3 May. An example of the fierceness of the early fighting can be seen from the experience of the 16th Battalion, from Western Australia. They landed at 5.30 pm on 26 April, went straight to Monash Valley, and stayed there until 3 May. At the roll call on that day only 307 men were there of the 995 who had landed.

The birth of the ANZAC legend dates back to the 25th of April, 1915 where the newly federated Australia took part in one of the first international events as Australians. [1] The theory suggests that the Australian and New Zealander soldiers helped build the national identity of their countries on international level. [2] They established Australia’s name as a new nation through the qualities of the soldiers which include endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour, larrikinism, and mateship. Today every year on the 25th of April we celebrate ‘ANZAC Day’ as part of commemorating the Australians and New Zealanders who served and lost their lives in wars, conflicts, other operations to bring

1915 now known as Anzac Day. The troops were giving the task to invade the

Gallipoli was Australia’s first major fight as a new independent country and because of this it was a moment in time where Australians could prove their worth to the rest of the world. Despite the Gallipoli campaign being an embarrassing military defeat for allied troops, it would come to be remembered as the rising of Australia as a nation in its own right - with a unique identity and set of values. The efforts of the men and women who served on the front forged characteristics which would be passed on back home by those returning from war, and shaping Australian society.