Today, the flags of the Australia and New Zealand fly to Commemorate ANZAC Day, which commemorates the first military action of the Australia New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) in World War I at Gallipoli, which began on April 25, 1925.
Quoting the Australian War Memorial ANZAC DAY page, “The Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. What had been planned as a bold stroke to knock Turkey 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 from the peninsula, with both sides having suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. More than 8,000 Australian soldiers had died in the campaign. Gallipoli had a profound impact on Australians at home, and 25 April soon became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who died in the war.”
Quoting the New Zealand History ANZAC Day page, “Thousands lost their lives during the Gallipoli campaign: 87,000 Ottoman Turks, 44,000 men from France and the British Empire, including 8,500 Australians. To this day, Australia also marks the events of 25 April. Among the dead were 2,779 New Zealanders, about one in six of those who served on Gallipoli.”
The modern commemoration of ANZAC Day broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. It is these nations’ equivalent of Memorial Day in the United States.
The flags of Australia and New Zealand which are flying today were gifts from my mother who purchased them on a trip to these islands. These flags are different sizes, which I wouldn’t normally fly at the same time. However, the importance of the day and the provenance of these flags justifies doing so today. No disrespect is intended to the nation or people of New Zealand.
Cruesbreck Flags 