Bravery

THE SERIES

Every year on April 25th, Australians gather as a nation and pause to give tribute to the heroes and heroines from wars past and to reflect on the many different meanings of war. This day is known as ANZAC day (Australia & New Zealand Army Corps- the Anzacs).
It is a time to reflect on all those who were killed in battle and who fought for freedom (conscripted or otherwise).
It is a time to cook up ANZAC day biscuits, shine up our parents, grandparents and great grand-parents war medals and maybe have a game of two-up.
The day marks the first major military action by Australian and New Zealand forces. It marks the anniversary of that fateful day the ANZAC’s landed at Gallipoli in 1915. A campaign with dreadful consequences- over 8,000 ANZAC’s were killed in a battle that ensued for eight months and has now become legendary.
The troops actions during this campaign left a powerful legacy and has formed a strong part of our nations identity.

The ANZAC day march is an ode to peace and an elegy to what lives have been destroyed by war. It is a ghost that effects a nation but it is also a ghost that haunts many individuals. Those few Anzacs that remain from the world wars carry in their minds the images of atrocity caused by hate and greed.
We honour our heroes with “Lest We Forget”. I’m sure some wish they could.


THE IMAGE

It is a great honour to be in the march. For many ex-soldiers it is difficult and painful and sometimes even impossible for them to complete the march but they do so by whatever means possible. This ANZAC waves somberly to the crowd that would probably have no idea of what it feels like to have been through what he has been through. The crowd cheers with immense pride and gratitude.

Image 1 of 4 GHOSTS OF THE PAST