25th April is ANZAC Day. On this day, we celebrate the sacrifices which the members of both Australia’s and New Zealand’s armed forces made in various theatres of war.
ANZAC Day is so special to all Australians. We all have relatives who have served in the military forces on our behalf. Commencing from the participation of our forebears prior to Federation, then as the Nation of Australia, Australians have participated in many and varied theatres of war. These include the Boer War (1899-1902), the Chinese Boxer Rebellion (1900-1901), through two World Wars, Russia, Malaita, Spain, Korea, Malaya, Vietnam, the Gulf War, East Timor, Afghanistan, Iraq and ISIL. There are other theatres of war not named here.
It is estimated that 102,930 Australians have been killed, 226,060 wounded and 34,733 have been taken as prisoners of war, in these theatres of war, since Federation in 1901.
While we remember our military men and women, who have sacrificed a period of their lives or who have lost their lives for us, this sacrificial giving of oneself clearly reminds us of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, God in the flesh, who gave His life for us.
Jesus said, that to give one’s life for a friend is a demonstration of the greatest love.
“Greater love has no man than this, to lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13.
We are grateful for the sacrifice that Australians have made in order to protect the Australian people and to preserve our freedoms. This is why we celebrate ANZAC Day.
Here are some maps to help you see where the landing of the ANZAC troops took place in the Dardanelles region, at Gallipoli, in Turkey on 25 April 1915.
Question: Why do you think the location of Gallipoli on the Dardanelles was an important place to control?
CREDIT
Map produced by Geographx with research assistance from Damien Fenton and Caroline Lord. It originally appeared in Damien Fenton, New Zealand and the First World War (Penguin, Auckland, 2013)
'Gallipoli invasion map', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/gallipoli-invasion-map, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 26-Apr-2023
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