While this is not an area of expertise for me, as a historian, it would be remiss of me to let ANZAC Day go by without mention of the 8,159 Australian men and, quite frankly, boys who lost their lives on the beach at Gallipoli. According to the Australian War Memorial, these lives were lost between 25th April, 1915 (the day of the landing) and January 1916.

Regardless of what we think individually of war, it cannot be forgotten that these young men, in the prime of their lives, fought gallantly as asked of them in a war that it was believed would end all wars. They suffered horrendous conditions – as do all soldiers in all wars. And, in this instance, it was the first time that Australians fought as representatives of Australia rather than the Empire: this was our first conflict following Federation.

Today we remember all those who fought in all wars: those who lost their lives; those who lost their limbs; those who lost their sight or their hearing; those who lost their mind; those who lost their mates; those who lost themselves.

Lest we forget

Kerry

Categories: ANZAC Day

Tagged as: 25th April 25th April 1915 ANZAC Australia loss New Zealand rememberance Turkey war

Kerry A Waight - Author

A writer of historical fiction and paranormal stories.