As we Australians get ready to honour the courage and sacrifice of those who served in wars, conflicts, and peace operations on Anzac Day, I am sharing a different perspective with you each day to help us be prepared for the day itself, 25 April. Each instalment will also include a poem that I’ve chosen, which I’m sure you will find very moving, as I did.
Day 2: Tuesday 22 April, “Family: Australia and New Zealand”
“Little they knew of warfare, Their lesson was all to learn – These men of the Golden Wattle, These lads of the Silver Fern.”
– Excerpt from “A Poem for Anzac Day”, by “a New Zealander”
Yesterday, I focussed on the herb, Rosemary, that we use to remember our service men and women in all conflicts on Anzac Day. In this second instalment, I focus on the relationship between our two nations, Australia and New Zealand which formed ANZAC at Gallipoli. Remember to ready yourself with the New Zealand national anthem – you may be invited to sing it this Saturday.
The birth of two nations, through blood and tears
Did you know that New Zealand is specifically named in the Australian Constitution as a State that is welcome to join our federation?
That should tell you something about the closeness and affection our peoples had for each other in the lead up to the foundation of Australia as a federation of states in 1901. (New Zealand chose not to join, but it could still do so one day).
Little wonder then, that when war broke out in 1914 (leading to the Gallipoli campaign in 1915) that the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) operated as one cohesive unit despite drawing on two separate but allied military forces. That conflict was a military failure, and yet it is often referred to as an event that gave birth to our national identities.
I’ve always thought of New Zealanders more as family than friends. If our fellow Australians interstate are brothers and sisters to us Tasmanians; then surely kiwis are first cousins. As cultures, we’re not very different at all. We’re not separated by institutions, economic ideology, language or liberal democratic principles.
When we try to think of differences, the list is short. (Our nifty accents come to mind ahead of the others, aye?)
The familial bonds run deep. Thankfully, our two nations also have deep treaties and intelligence sharing with other distant Western nations (especially the United Kingdom, the USA and Canada) and strong bonds with our close regional partners including Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and the Pacific family of nations.
And when one is threatened, the rest turn up to defend, protect and to rebuild.
I’ve found that occasionally, there will be a New Zealander present in an official capacity at an Anzac Day service. But almost without exception, we will have the NZ National Anthem played or sang immediately after our own. A quick word on “God Defend New Zealand / Aotearoa”. At this point, I just want to say I find that a beautiful and deeply moving song. At the Launceston service, we sing our own National Anthem “Advance Australia Fair” and the first verse of the NZ anthem in both English and in Maori. I love it and think you will too! (Lyrics below)
On the 25th of April 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula. These became known as Anzacs and the pride they took in that name continues to this day.
The Anzacs landed on Gallipoli and met fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. Their plan to knock Türkiye out of the war quickly became a stalemate and the campaign dragged on for eight months.
At the end of 1915, the allied forces were evacuated. Both sides suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Over 8,700 Australian soldiers were killed. Over 2,700 New Zealand soldiers were killed. In total, including wounded, casualties among the ANZACs at Gallipoli numbered over 36,000. What a heavy toll for these young nations. What a weight of grief for their families and our trans-Tasman communities.
Our honour boards, cenotaphs, memorial halls and avenues of trees speak clearly of that grief and love in those times. And today, we are pledged to never forget their service and sacrifice. “We will remember them”.
As an Australian, I’m so grateful for the fraternity we enjoy with New Zealanders. Our bonds have been tested and proved both true and enduring. Long may it continue (under Providence) hopefully only in peace, not in another war.
Lest We Forget.
A Poem for Anzac Day
(By a New Zealander)
They came from field and factory,
From desk and fishing fleet,
From shearing shed and foundry,
From hill and plain and street;
Kin of the old sea rovers,
Sons of that stubborn strain
That swallowed all invasions –
Saxon and Norse and Dane.
Men of the far young countries
New-won by their fathers’ toil;
Taut from an endless striving,
Sons of the sea and the soil;
Little they knew of warfare,
Their lesson was all to learn –
These men of the Golden Wattle,
These lads of the Silver Fern.
The hush of a chill spring morning,
The race to the ragged beach,
The hail of the searing shrapnel,
And the big shells’ angry screech;
Up and up to the ridges,
Through the bullet-belching brucsh,
To the hell of a fire-girt dawning
And the flame-edged Turkish rush.
The soft Levantine breezes
Steal o’er the storied spot;
The flanks of Achi Baba,
The red-stained Daisy Plot,
The gullies east of Anzac,
The slopes of Sari Bair
Are silent now; yet ever
We honour those who’re there.
Their names shall live for ever
In the Halls of Memory.
They gave their lives as ransom
That we who live be free.
They bought us peace and freedom,
Nor grudged the utmost price.
God grant that we prove worthy
Of their great sacrifice.
Advance Australia Fair
Australian National Anthem
Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are one and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.
Sources:
https://www.army.gov.au/about-us/history-and-research/traditions/anzac-day
https://www.mch.govt.nz/our-work/flags-anthems-and-emblems/national-anthems/god-defend-new-zealand-aotearoa
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/interactive/gallipoli-casualties-country
https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/a-poem-for-anzac-day/
