One of Australia’s most important national occasions, Anzac Day is held on April 25 every year to mark the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces in World War 1.

ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

Australia had only been a federated nation for 13 years when Britan declared war in August 1914, with Australian soldiers becoming part of the Commonwealth forces.

In 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers were part of an expedition to capture the Gallipoli peninsula to allow allied navies access to the Dardanelles, with the ultimate of objective to capture Constantinople, now known as Istanbul, which was the Capital of the Ottoman Empire a German ally.

When the Anzacs landed at Gallipoli on April 25, they were met with strong opposition from the Ottoman Turkish forces and the campaign dragged on for eight long months.

The allied forces were evacuated from the Gallipoli peninsula at the end of 1915 but by then more than 8000 Australian soldiers had lost their lives.

This had a profound impact on Australians and April 25 became Anzac Day, a day every year where the nation remembers the sacrifice the Anzacs made for their countries.

Despite the Gallipoli campaign failing, the Australian and New Zealand forces had made their mark, resulting in the ‘Anzac legend’ being born, and becoming part of the identity of both nations.

Commemorating Anzac Day began on April 25, 1916, with ceremonies and services held across Australia, a march involving more than 2000 Australian and New Zealand troops through London, and a sports day in Australia’s military camp in Egypt.

By the 1920s, Anzac Day had become established as a National Day of Commemoration to honour the more than 60,000 Australians who lost their lives in World War 1.

The first national public holiday to observe Anzac Day was in 1927.

By the mid-1930s, dawn vigils, marches, memorial services, reunions, and two-up games had become part of the Anzac Day culture.

Following World War 2, the lives of Australians who had died in combat were also commemorated on Anzac Day, and since the meaning of the day has been expanded to include all people who lost their lives in military and peacekeeping operations Australia has been involved in.