ANZAC Day

ANZAC stand for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. On ANZAC Day, 25th April each year, we remember the brave men and women who have served our country in times of war.

The Australian soldiers are called Diggers. Some soldiers lived in cities, towns and villages back home. Some soldiers were Indigenous Australians and some soldiers were Australian South Sea Islanders.

The First World War lasted four years. There was a second World War which lasted for six years. Since then there have been other small wars and battles like in Vietnam. Very brave people are called heroes. Simpson and his donkey are famous heroes from the First World War. Simpson called his donkey Duffy.He put wounded soldiers on the Duffy’s back and helped them to the first aid tent.

To be at war is not a good thing because people can get hurt or killed and lose their possessions and this makes people very sad. “Defend” means “to keep safe” and the people in the Australian Defence Force keep our country safe and protect us. Within the Defence Force there are men and women who are doctors, dentists, cooks, musicians, truck drivers etc.

On ANZAC Day we show our thanks to the people who have fought for our country. Flowers and wreaths of red poppies are laid at the bottom of war memorials as a way of saying we have remembered these brave people. A war memorial is a place that honours all those who have died in wars. The Ode is part of a special poem that is said during the ANZAC Day service. Here are the words:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.At the going down of the sun and in the morningWe will remember them.

We should never forget these brave Australians.