No M+AD Monday

AUCKLAND, Today: Anzac Day is a public holiday in New Zealand this Monday (26 April). As usual, there’ll be no emailed M+AD – but our website will still be active.

This holiday marks the anniversary of the first key military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. It celebrates a monumental loss – not a victory.

Anzac stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The troops in those forces became known as Anzacs, and the pride in the name endures to this day.

In 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula. The plan was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul), capital of the Ottoman Empire and an ally of the Germans.

“14,000 NZ soldiers were involved in the fighting and of these, 2790 were killed. The Aussies lost 8700.”

They landed at Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Turkish defenders. The assault rapidly became a stalemate, dragging on for eight months.

By the end of 1915 the allied forces were evacuated after both sides had suffered heavy casualties – around one-sixth of all AUNZ troops.

Around 14,000 soldiers from New Zealand were involved in the fighting and of these, 2790 were killed. The Aussies lost 8700.

No holiday in AU
This year, Anzac Day falls on Sunday, and will be observed in NZ on Monday. In Australia, the holiday is not moved if it falls on a weekend.