Honoring The Anzacs: Understanding The Impact of The Anzac Legend

The ANZAC legend is a term used to describe the stories, myths, and imagery associated with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) soldiers who fought in World War I. The ANZACs landed on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey on April 25, 1915, and the event is still celebrated as ANZAC Day, a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand. The ANZAC legend is the key term for this essay, its causes and results are discussed in the next paragraphs.

Commemorating the Anzacs: Exploring the Influence of the Anzac Legend

Conflicts involving European nations were fueled by nationalism and led to World War I in 1914. Australia had become independent in 1901, but they were Britain’s ally and automatically agreed to back Britain. The first Australian recruits left Australia in late October 1914, but instead of going to Britain, the ships were sent to Egypt as it was believed the Australian soldiers would not be able to survive the English weather. The ANZACs landed on the Gallipoli peninsula on April 25, 1915, to try to capture the Dardanelles and open a sea route to Constantinople. The attempt was a failure, and many lives were lost as well as not reaching military victory. The ANZAC legend is now a significant part of Australian culture as it is a reminder of the lives lost in Gallipoli. Although the Battle on the Western Front was equally courageous, it does not get the same amount of attention. Historians may argue that during the Battle of Fromelles, soldiers personified the ANZAC qualities: “resourcefulness, fidelity, comradeship, and endurance that will never own defeat” (Smith, 2020). Even though the Gallipoli campaign influenced the ANZAC legend, the battle at Fromelles is just as influential to the ANZAC legend.

The Influence of Gallipoli on the ANZAC Legend

The battle against the Turks in Gallipoli was the main inspiration for the ANZAC legend. Approximately 27,000 ANZAC soldiers landed at ANZAC Cove on April 25, 1915. The Gallipoli campaign was an establishing moment for soldiers as they displayed great courage, endurance, initiative, and discipline. The war correspondent Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett described the landing at Gallipoli: “They waited neither for orders nor for the boats to reach the beach, but, springing out into the sea, they waded ashore, and, forming some sort of rough line, rushed straight on the flashes of the enemy’s rifles” (Ashmead-Bartlett, 1915). This quote gave the ANZAC soldiers the image that they were courageous and would risk their lives for their countries. The battle at Gallipoli was recognized by the Turks as they share the sense of pride and mateship that was forged in the battle at Gallipoli. This famous message displays the esteem in which the ANZAC soldiers were held: “Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore, rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmet’s to us where they lie side by side now here in this country of ours... you, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land, they have become our sons as well” – Turkish Ruler Kemal Ataturk (Ataturk, 1934). The battle at Gallipoli was the main influence in the ANZAC legend and was recognized more than the battles at the Western Front and Fromelles.

The Gallipoli Campaign and Its Impact

The ANZAC legend was forged in Gallipoli when many ANZACs fought and lost their lives to the Turks. The Gallipoli campaign involved British soldiers, French soldiers, and ANZACs against the Turks and Germany. The Gallipoli campaign was being planned over months, but the first major event happened on April 25, 1915, when the ANZACs landed at Gallipoli between 4:30 am and 4:45 am. The campaign was launched to pressure Germany's ally (Turkey) out of the war, but the campaign failed as the warships were unable to force their way through the straits known as the Dardanelles. The conditions at Gallipoli were terrible; there were no showering facilities, and soldiers barely had chances to clean themselves. This resulted in diseases spreading throughout the Turkish and ANZAC forces. They could contract diseases such as dysentery, tetanus, or septicemia, and many soldiers would be evacuated from the battle due to the inability to fight as a result of the lack of good hygiene. The Gallipoli campaign had a huge impact on Australia as so many young Australians lost their lives fighting the Turks, and the campaign influenced the ANZAC legend and became the center of the legend.

Conclusion

In modern Australian culture, we remember all the soldiers who lost their lives on Remembrance Day, better known as ANZAC Day, as we have a minute of silence to pay respects. The ANZACs fought for Australia and will never be forgotten for the huge sacrifices they made. The enduring legacy of the ANZACs continues to shape the national identity of Australia and New Zealand, symbolizing bravery, mateship, and perseverance in the face of adversity.

References:

• Ashmead-Bartlett, E. (1915). Correspondence on the Gallipoli Campaign.
• Ataturk, K. (1934). Speech on the ANZACs.
• Smith, J. (2020). The Influence of the ANZAC Legend on Australian Identity. Historical Review.