Gipoli And The Anzac Myth

Did Australia’s WWI service history contribute to a national identity and what was the identity that was forged? Discuss.

Keating's speech addresses the changing attitudes to war and to the Anzac legend. When he states: ‘ this Australia and the Australia he knew are like foreign countries’ he is using contrast to show us exactly how much has changed.

World War 1 war correspondent and historian Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean believed that Anzac Day 1915 saw the birth of the Australian national consciousness maintaining that "The big thing in the war...was the discovery of the character of Australian men. It was a character which rushed the hills at Gallipoli and held on there during the long afternoon and night, when everything seemed to have gone wrong and there was only the barest hope at the end of success". Gallipoli also saw the birth of the 'Anzac Legend' or 'Anzac Spirit'. A term used to illustrate the characteristics of ANZAC soldiers which encompassed bravery, endurance, ingenuity, comradeship and what Australians call 'mateship'. The term developed as a central part of Australia's collective memory and national identity growing popular largely due to Bean's works.

Source 4 mentions two common sayings to do with Australian realisations entering the war, "here Australia became a nation" and Blightly [Britain] is a failure, take me to Australia" (Stanley, 2011). The service of 320 thousand Australians stimulated the first growth of a self-conscious Australian nationalism. At the landing at Gallipoli Australian troops expected to learn from the British but instead looked down on them as amateurs and were disappointed with their performance, efficiency and supplies. "Real sense of inequality of sacrifice" (Carrodus, Delany, Easton, Howitt and Smith, 2014). Source 5 makes notice of the fact that by the middle of 1915 the reality of war began to dawn. Australians became disillusioned with the news of deaths upon deaths and war waged on with no visible end. Endless, helplessness, unfairly treated feelings. Australia was divided due to the working class feeling exploited and the middle and upper classes being affected less by the war. "It was a hollow mockery for citizens to celebrate the glories of ANZAC Day unless they were prepared to fulfil their promises and do their duty to the men who had fought and suffered through the war." (Brand, 1925). Source 6 is a quote from a recent time after WW1, it shows the pride Australians had in their soldiers, that they thought they were brave and to

‘A massive increase in the popularity and national significance of ANZAC Day’ (Source 1), grew throughout the twenty-first century. Since the landing of Gallipoli, it has been celebrated and as it continued, it quickly adapted to the cultural change of the media and technology which further improved the growth of its popularity. This day joins all Australians as one, in celebration to show their respect, compassion and pride for those people who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Damian Morgan conveyed the change in society, but also the well-kept, treasured ANZAC Spirit.

The ANZACs were a significant influence in the development of nationalism in Australia during World War One (WWI). Throughout WWI, Australian formed the fundamentals of the now universally recognised Australian identity. The ANZACs played a crucial role in the establishment of a mixture of both cultural and triumphal nationalism as Australia’s exposure to other cultures during WWI saw them no longer recognised as an extension of Britain but an independent group of competent men and women that could equal their Commonwealth forefathers in the war effort. Thus, forming a distinct identity and sense of nationalism that’s significance, decades after WWI, remained strongly associated with the WWI ANZACs.

World War I (1914-1918) was considered the 'Great War' and Australia’s Gallipoli campaign has always been considered as the pinnacle of the Australian military feats. This is due to the constant glorification of the event despite the fact it was an unmitigated failure. However, the work of the Australian army force in the most important battleground of WW1 the 'Western Front' is often cast under the shadow of Gallipoli. The battles on the Western Front took place in France, Belgium and parts of Germany and this is where some of the most pivotal battles were fought. The contribution and success of the Australians will be assessed through the analysis of several sources related to four major contributions related to the Western Front. These include the amount of Australians involved, the external opinions of Australia in the Western front, The Battle of

‘We’re all Australians now’ draws the reader to see the war from a positive Australia home front perspective. Texts from

World War One is regarded as a major turning point in history and modern warfare which has impacted Australia monumentally, scarring the nation’s history. Australia played a significant role in World War One and the Gallipoli campaign, which is considered the birthplace of the ANZAC legend. These events have immensely shaped Australia as the nation we know of today. World War One began in 1914 from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and ended in 1918 on November the 11th which is now recognised as a day of mourning and a time given recognition to the lives taken on the battlefield. To a prominent extent, the ANZAC legend is significant to the concept of Australian identity and nationalism through the origins of the ANZAC legend, the key events that have helped form Australia as an independent nation, and in addition to how ANZAC day is commemorated today.

The Gallipoli campaign was described as the baptism of the newly federated Australia, and a chance for Australian soldiers to prove themselves to the world. They were not ultimately victorious, but the soldiers came to represent the character traits of the new country: fit and healthy, duty bound and courageous, good humored and egalitarian. The ANZAC image allowed Australians to both demonstrate loyalty to Britain, and claim an identity of their own. There is much to challenge the factual accuracy of the ANZAC image.

ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The “spirit,” based on research about Donnell, can be summarised as the mind set that led servicemen and women to not only enlist but also keep themselves going. It refers to courage, endurance, initiative, discipline and mate-ship. Regardless of whether they achieved military victory, or not, these characteristics are common among the solders. The spirit is what helped them continue to try their very best.

The Anzac legend is still relevant in today’s society as it reminds Australians and New Zealands of the sacrifice they made to protect our country and let us live in freedom. The legend defines our national identity and helps shape our national reputation so that other countries can look at us as and think of us as a country who are determined, brave, resilient and helps our mates when they are in trouble. Almost a whole generation of young men was lost and they deserved to be remembered. The soldiers continued to fight during challenging times and when they felt as though it was too hard and should give up. They slept in wet and dirty clothes and barely had enough food to survive. Australia wouldn’t be Australia without the legend of the soldiers who sacrificed themselves for us.

The reasons that I will bring forward that emphasise what the Anzac Spirit includes the sacrifices made by men and women, Anzac Day traditions, Australia’s identity and the qualities of the Anzac Spirit.

The ANZAC legend, with qualities of courage, mateship and sacrifice continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity. It stems from the belief that Australia became a nation at Gallipoli and the acclaimed achievements reported back home that the ANZACS became legend in society. When world war one started, Australia had only been acknowledged as a nation for 13 years; since 1901 when it became a democratic nation not just a colony of Britain. When the opportunity of war was presented, Australia had the chance to expand its horizons and reveal the characteristics, traits and qualities of Australia. It is through this that Australia was discovered as a nation.

Why is the Anzac legend important for future generations? It was a remarkable day and a day in which it was easy to pick out the wasters, also the brave men. I am delighted with our Australian troops, the way they take the gruel is splendid. (T. J. Richards https://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/17/1082140118215.html ) ANZAC day is a very special and important day to Australians.