Australian heritage, ANZAC day

Australian and New Zealand Army Corps or ANZAC for short refers to the soldiers sent to Turkey during the First World War.

This was the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during WW1 where roughly 10 000 ANZAC soldiers perished.

Today the memories of these soldiers are perpetuated through several war memorials and a national memorial day at the 25th of April. Here in Melbourne this memorial takes form as The Shrine of Remembrance and can be found next to The Royal Botanic Gardens where it has been since 1934.

About a month ago this event took place in Australia and the city was filled with people and marching bands walking the streets paying their respect to the soldiers who gave their life to the cause of the nation.

The Anzac landing on Gallipoli in 1915 is today majorly viewed as a central marker of the Australian nationhood. Even though it might stand as a symbol of national sovereignty it is not directly connected to the emergence of Australian independence. When the war broke out Australia had already been a federation nation for 13 years and was still under heavy influence from the British Empire several years after. So why this day is so tightly bound to the idea of national identity must be more intricate than first perceived.

Apparently in 1915 in the heat of WW1 many Australians believed that nations where made in war and that the armed conflicts were a supreme test for men and society. Considering the historical events of the ANZAC day, its ties to today’s national identity it is not completely apparent to me, if it is the beliefs of that nationality emerges from war or if it is a justification for the loss of thousands of ANZAC soldiers, I don't know.