For our northern friends, a little explanation of ANZAC day
ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. Initially, in WW1 both countries fought for as a single army unit.
The day April 25th, commemorates the day the ANZAC's landed at Gallipoli(Turkey) in 1915. It was a combined allied operation, and militarily, was an utter disaster. The campaign lasted a little under 9 months and resulted in over 250,000 casualties.
The campaign achieved none of its military goals.
So why did it become a touchstone for our countries.Hard to say really, what Gallipoli did show to those at home, and the world in general, that we make the best of a bad situation, we don't cut and run. In essence they had done us proud.
This quality was quickly acknowledged by the British and French commanders on the Western Front from 1916 to the end of the war in 1918. They used ANZAC's as front line troops to spearhead the advances of the set piece battles that were so horrendously expensive in terms of human life.
By the end of the war in 1918 over 60,000 of our soldiers had died, our army had suffered the greatest loss of life per head of population of any of the combatant nations.It was a volunteer army, unlike most other countries we as a nation had voted against conscription(the draft).
The day is celebrated in our typical rowdy way. In amongst the moving tributes, there is lots of partying, two up gambling, footy matches etc.
But we do care, because by and large they have 'done us proud'. Although to an outsider it may be a little bemusing the way we show our feelings.