WATCH: The ill fated campaign resulted in more than 130,000 deaths and marked the first major military action by Australian and New Zealand forces during the war. Jennifer Palma has more on the Vancouver service to honour Anzac day — including the Canadian connection.
Crowds gathered at Vancouver’s Victory Square Saturday to commemorate one of Australia and New Zealand’s most important national days.
ANZAC Day honours the Australia-New Zealand Army Corps, and is observed on the anniversary of the First World War battle in Gallipoli, Turkey.
This year’s ANZAC Day is of particular significance as it is the 100th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli, which marked the start of a fierce battle that lasted for eight months. Around 44,000 Allied troops and 86,000 Ottoman soldiers died.
The doomed offensive aimed to secure a naval route from the Mediterranean to Istanbul through the Dardanelles, and take the Ottomans out of the war.
The tragic fate of troops from Australia and New Zealand is said to have inspired an identity distinct from the British.
“Unfortunately, the Gallipoli campaign was not successful, but what it did do was help forge New Zealand and Australian nationhood because it was a time when everyone came together, much like Vimy Ridge helped forge Canadian nationhood,” said Kevin Lamb of Australia’s Consulate in Vancouver.
In Australia and New Zealand the day was commemorated with services at dawn, the time of the original landing in Turkey. Canada also marked the day to honour the efforts of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, the only unit from North America to fight alongside ANZAC troops in Gallipoli.
WATCH: Historian Shawn Bradbury on the Royal Newfoundland Regiment
-with files from Jennifer Palma and Associated Press
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