Yesterday was ANZAC Day in Australia

@JudyEv (326191)
Rockingham, Australia
April 25, 2024 9:17pm CST
Yesterday was ANZAC Day for Australia when we remember those who fought in the various wars. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The focus is on the beach landings at Gallipoli where hundreds of soldiers were slaughtered trying to storm the Turkish trenches. Australia was part of the British Commonwealth. Our population was about 4 million. Those who enlisted represented 38.7% of the male population aged between 18 and 44. From 1914 to 1918, there were 59,357 deaths plus thousands more wounded, missing or captured. A commemoration service, held at our village, was very well attended. There was an impressive display of memorabilia. Anzac biscuits, lamingtons and fruit cake were on offer after the service. The oatmeal biscuits and fruit cake were often sent to soldiers as they kept well. Lamingtons are an Australian favourite – sponge cake squares covered in chocolate icing and rolled in coconut. I think they might have originated here. Vince took photos of the proceedings, and this very poignant photo is used with permission, showing a father farewelling his young son.
19 people like this
17 responses
rebelann1949
@rebelann (111269)
• El Paso, Texas
26 Apr
I salute those who served as well as their families. It's always the soldiers who give the ultimate while those in governments pretend to understand
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (459402)
• Switzerland
26 Apr
So true, look at Russia/Ukraine and Israel/Gaza. And now not only military are killed, but also women and children.
4 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326191)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr
That's very true. Those who serve are affected for the rest of their lives.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326191)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr
@LadyDuck Wars today are every bit as brutal, if not more so, than those in the past.
4 people like this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (95804)
• Marion, Ohio
26 Apr
Touching photo.
2 people like this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (95804)
• Marion, Ohio
26 Apr
@JudyEv I do hope they were reunited
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326191)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr
It is, isn't it? The soldier is just so much taller than his little boy. He's at full stretch just to shake hands.
2 people like this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (45594)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
26 Apr
Poignant photo... I hope Jr got to see his father again.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326191)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr
I'm not sure whether he did or not but I know the lady who owns the photo. I'll ask her when she comes back from holiday.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (459402)
• Switzerland
26 Apr
Yesterday (April 25) Italy celebrated "Liberation Day" the victory of Partisans over the German Nazi. Sad to see the fathers leave to go to fight, this is a poignant photo. Even right now so many "fathers" are killed in useless wars because the politicians do not want to meet and reach an agreement.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (459402)
• Switzerland
26 Apr
@JudyEv Politicians who decide to start a war should be sent on front line with the military. We would have no more wars. The date of April 25 was decided in 1946 by the first Democratic Italian government.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326191)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr
If the politicians had to take up arms they might think differently about sending young men off to war. It's interesting that Italy celebrates on the same day.
2 people like this
James Higgins
@JamesHxstatic (29293)
• Eugene, Oregon
27 Apr
That's a worthwhile remembrance and a hope that it will never again be necessary.
1 person likes this
James Higgins
@JamesHxstatic (29293)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Apr
@JudyEv Sad but true.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326191)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Apr
No generation seems to learn much from the previous one. Sometimes it seems they only learn how to make more destructive weapons.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (307318)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
26 Apr
You mentioned ANZAC Day before. I'm glad you enjoyed the day with a wonderful display of memorabilia.
2 people like this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (307318)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
26 Apr
@JudyEv Yes, it is important.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326191)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr
It means nothing to other countries but is an important day for Australians.
2 people like this
Heather Echola
@GardenGerty (157674)
• United States
27 Apr
We should never forget what our soldiers gave for us.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326191)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Apr
That's so true. Every generation seems to have to have its war.
snowy
@snowy22315 (170599)
• United States
26 Apr
Happy Anzac Day..hopefully the vets wouldn't mind if you enjoy it. I am glad you explained lamingtons. I was going to ask, although I think you have explained it before.
1 person likes this
Judy Story
@jstory07 (134696)
• Roseburg, Oregon
27 Apr
What a nice picture. You had a lot of goodies being offered.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326191)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Apr
Everyone loved the lamingtons. I like it when they're rolled in strawberry jelly (jello) so they are pink rather than brown.
1 person likes this
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (49132)
• United States
26 Apr
My daddy served with the Australians while he was in Vietnam.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326191)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr
Really? Isn't that interesting. Many of our servicemen came back with PSTD and other disorders.
1 person likes this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (73743)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
26 Apr
It is always great to remember those who served, got injured, or lost their lives, That Lamington sounds delicious,
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
27 Apr
I learned so much when we visited Gallipoli. Very touching discussion.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
28 Apr
@JudyEv Wow!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326191)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Apr
Thanks. We haven't been to Gallipolli but we went to the Somme, Villiers-Bretonneux, etc. We found Vince's uncle's name at one of the war memorials there.
1 person likes this
Dena Miller
@Dena91 (15909)
• United States
27 Apr
Thank God for those willing to serve and protect our countries. What a beautiful picture.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326191)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Apr
It's an amazing photo, isn't it? One of those caught at just the right moment.
1 person likes this
Greenery8
@grenery8 (2625)
• Croatia (Hrvatska)
26 Apr
age was up to 44?i thought this age was too old for the army. and 18was too young. very big event. cake sounds very delicious
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326191)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Apr
Some put their ages up so they could join. We were very short of manpower in Australia while they were all at war.
1 person likes this
Greenery8
@grenery8 (2625)
• Croatia (Hrvatska)
28 Apr
@JudyEv unnecessary battle yet terrible loss. indeed.
1 person likes this
Four Walls
@FourWalls (62499)
• United States
26 Apr
What, they didn’t have to deal with hardtack instead of Anzac biscuits? (“Hardtack” was something made from flour and water that lasted forever and was probably responsible for thousands of broken teeth back in the 18th and 19th centuries.) That’s a precious photo. Thank you to all of the ANZAC servicemen and women!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326191)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr
It's quite an amazing photo. One of those 'moments in time' captured forever. That soldier looks SOO tall.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (157330)
• United States
26 Apr
Wonderful photo. The deepest respect for those that fought in the wars.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326191)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr
These men went through so much.
1 person likes this
M Cheung
@Beestring (13391)
• Hong Kong
26 Apr
A precious photo.Tribute to all of the ANZAC servicemen and women!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326191)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Apr
Yes, they sacrificed a great deal for the generations to follow.
1 person likes this