ANZAC Day 25th April

The date of the landing at Anzac Cove on the Dardanelles Peninsula, 25 April, was chosen to be the day that would become our National Day of Commemoration.

Australian and New Zealand troops landed on 25 April 1915 where they, along with other Commonwealth Forces, held ground against almost impossible odds for the next eight months, against a Turkish force determined to defend to the death their homeland.
The British action planned to secure the heights overlooking the forts guarding the narrow straits at the entrance to the Sea of Marmora. The purpose was to silence them and allow the French and British Navy to proceed to Constantinople (now Istanbul) and by a show of force convince the Turkish Government to capitulate and to come to the side of the Allies.
The plans did not bear fruit and what ensued was a tremendous series of battles by both sides over the next eight months. Both sides suffered horrendous casualties amongst the many ravines and gullies of that rugged battleground on which the ANZAC tradition was formed and that has become the benchmark for standards of courage, mateship and determination that has set an example for all Australians to follow.