Anzac Battlefield: A Gallipoli Landscape of War and Memory details the first comprehensive archaeological survey of the battlefield and is the result of a joint project by New Zealand, Australian and Turkish experts.
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For many, the Anzac Day ceremony was a funeral service for their loved ones, as the remains of most of the 2779 men who died in Gallipoli were in un-named or unmarked graves, or buried at sea, halfway around the world.
Sir Jerry says it’s evident today that 101 years on from the Gallipoli campaign “Anzac Day has not been forgotten”. We want to know and understand about how our family members were affected by the First World War.
“Where we come and commemorate those many lives that have been lost defending this nation, defending our freedoms, and that is exactly what we should be doing today”.
Air Force chaplain Anthony Hawes opened the service and welcomed the support that it still receives from the New Zealand public.
“We had 70 odd people here this morning – they’re thinking about the sunrise, they’re thinking about Australia and how could you not when you’re looking at the Harbour Bridge and you’re looking at the Opera House”, Mr Hayes St Clair told the ABC.
Matty John’s from Triple M’s Grill Team has reflected on Anzac Day this Monday.
Indeed Anzac Day has particular poignancy here in the Pacific, where Pacific Islanders, Australians and New Zealanders fought together with the allies to repel tyranny during World War II.
Numbers were down on previous year when the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings drew record crowds to services around the country.
The Prime Minister has released a message ahead of his attendance at the dawn service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington.
In Canberra, crowds of about 55,000 filled Anzac Parade with War Memorial director Brendan Nelson addressing the crowd, emphasising that the values of the Anzacs were ingrained in Australian culture now more than ever.
The Governor General said we can be thankful several generations of New Zealanders have been spared the trauma of major conflict.
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While the meaning of Anzac Day may have evolved over time, one thing has remained constant – our respect for what we call “the Anzac spirit” – the qualities of courage, compassion and comradeship.
