world

Australians, New Zealanders remember war dead on ANZAC Day

11 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2013 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

11 Comments
Login to comment

Ah, Gallipoli.... if you read up on it you really do realize just how tragic and stupid war is, not to mention the people in charge of orchestrating it and/or the actions on the battlefield. I shall listen to "The Ballad of Waltzing Matilda" this afternoon.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

The mythologizing of the Gallipolli campaign in recent times in Australia has left me cold. It was a stupid campaign which was an abject failure. Seeing young Australians traipsing about the place draped in a flag, getting misty eyed and claiming ANZAC Cove as Australian territory is frankly embarrassing. The French and British both lost more soldiers in that campaign, and You don't see them swanning around in the the Tricolor or Union Jack. Cringe.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

@ Tamarama

Your ignorance in the history of war in Gallipoli is understandable having no direct association or any of your ancestors involved in this battle but to claim that it has been mythologized to reflect your ignorance is unforgivable. There are those who fought and lost their lives in foreign countries so that others may live a peaceful life so lest not criticize and forget the fallen but to respect their precious giving to future generation.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Gallipoli, was but a side show in the eyes of the administrators of that war, it was callous Churchill that wanted to make a name for the Navy, a utter failure of a campaign, if but for the history wars.. Howards Black arm band history still resonates in the media, and lest we forget, the current generation of Australians.

A war that would end all wars. The greatest irony, in human history perhaps, for, from the ashes of this war, from hatred born, atop of a mountain of dead, political expediency and intransigence, fostered from nationalistic fervor, would lead to a world, that even today, is filled with conflict.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Tamarama: Gallipoli, as with similar 'leadership' with Dieppe and Canadian soldiers (or British, if you prefer) were a farce to relieve pressure to gain political favor with other nations. The British administration just wanted control of the Dardenelles, and put out the ANZACS as fodder. Do you actually know anything about what they did? They put triangular mirrors on the troops who ran with bayonettes against no less than British-sold Vickers machine guns, hand made grenades (probably would be called IMDs in this day and age), and sharpshooters. Now, when these grunts, wounded if they survived the moronic assaults on places like Rhododendron Ridge, would prove to be prime moving targets because the very reason the British wanted the metal plates on their back -- to assess how far they got before being gunned down -- they were clearly not dead.

That is but one example of the disgust of 'leadership'. Interestingly enough, there's a decent movie of the war and such with Mel Gibson, when he was still an Aussie (I think). It's heartbreaking, as is all war, and all the stupidity of so-called 'leaders' who stand aside and let people die for them.

So sad.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@Tamarama

What happened to having a little national pride? These men fought for our beautiful country and our people.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

sighclops

Although I have nothing against ANZAC Day, but Gallipoli is nowhere near Australia or the Pacific hemisphere for all that matters.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

raise a glass to the real heroes.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@SamuraiBlue

So you're saying that any americans that died in the european campaigns didn't matter either? That's basically what you're saying.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Redcliff I didn't know you knew my family history! Amazing! No, my ancestors fought on the Western Front during WWI, not Gallipolli, as you rightly point out. Not every Australian has ancestors who fought there, do they? But I have been to Gallipolli (15 years ago) and know as much of it as the next man. If you read my post carefully, I object to the spike in nationalistic pride by turning the story into mythical proportions and having the young folk, perhaps like you, gobbling it up. Sure, those men were brave. Sure they put up a good fight. But it was a disaster. It is a perfect example of the folly of war, and anyone who thinks they were there to protect the Australian way of life is delusional. They weren't. There was no glory involved in what they did and they got beaten by Turks defending their homeland. Smithinjapan, I watched 'Gallipolli' at the drive in when it wad released. How old were you then?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Tamarama: "It is a perfect example of the folly of war, and anyone who thinks they were there to protect the Australian way of life is delusional."

Exactly. There's a good scene in the movie where Mel Gibson and the other actor are talking to a man in the outback and they talk about joining the war against Germany and the guys says something like, "Is Germany in Australia? (No) Are they attacking us? Why are we at war with them?", etc. Illustrates what you said perfectly.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites