ANZAC DAY

Gallipoli: Landing Heavy Guns During Dardanelles Operations. Photo taken at Gaba Tepe (Anzac), the scene of the landing of the Australian troops upon the Gallipoli Peninsula, shows the disembarkation of a six inch hewitzer for sue against the defending Turks.
© Bettmann/CORBIS Go HERE for more details about the photo.

ANZAC DAY is really big in Australia and New Zealand. It is when we formally remember the landing of the troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipolli in Turkey early on the morning of 25 April 1915 during the First World War (1914-1918).

Over 8,000 Australian and 2,700 New Zealand soldiers died in a campaign that failed in its objective of taking Turkey out of the war. But it has become Australia's most significant national day, on which we remember the sacrifice of those who have served, and especially those who died, not only in that war, but in all wars and other military operations on behalf of our country.

Because Anzac Day has evolved in our culture to be "the one day of the year" that brings us all together, the Church in Australia and New Zealand has wisely moved St Mark's Day to 26th April (which, of course, means that this year he slips into the background, his day falling on a Sunday . . . not that he minds, I'm sure!)

COLLECT
Lord our God, boundless provider,
source of peace that the world cannot give,
kindly hear our constant prayer
for those who bore witness to your own fidelity
by giving their lives for those they loved.
Resurrect them in our true homeland
And perfect that peace for which they longed and died.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.