"What do we have against the British soldiers? We somehow forgive the Turks, yet some are still pommie bashing." - SF

If there is a copy in the video shop, borrow a copy of Joseph Losey's, "King & Country": It shows how junior officers and non-commissioned ranks were the victims of the British Field Command.

Pommies's need to be "selectively" bashed, with good cause. In WWI , it is The Crown, politicians and generals [fast tracked from the aristocracy] whom deserve to be go down in history also with Carigula, several Popes and Hilter and Stalin.

Leaders recognize each others' power pistance from the People. After Pearl Harbour, pilots were order NOT to bomb Hirohito's palace, even though they [the pilots] wanted to

Since when did we turn from talking of ANZAC services and commemorations, to talking of celebrations? I must have missed a few years. I finished school only 10 years ago, and was taught a reasonable history of the war, including Gallipoli. It certainly fit with what the general understanding is of what happened.... that we invaded Turkey, that the British command buggered up the landing spot, that we lost, that the conditions were horrific to say the least. I suggest its more the spin put on things by the media that we see it in any other light. Gallipoli holds a special place in our military history for a few reasons:
(1) The particular futility of it
(2) The fact that it was our first military engagement as a country
(3) The naivety of the young men who signed up to see the world
(4) The fact that we have been able to reach a mutual respect with what were the enemy.

Yes, causalities were higher in Europe, but they get lost in the enormity of that particular conflict.

As for us focussing on the Australians at Gallipoli... well, we are Aussies. I am sure that the New Zealanders focus on their troops there too. I dont see that this is a bad thing, so long as we dont forget the overall context that we were not the only ones.

Country Girl,

Good summary points.

O.

What ever name that day goes by ,it is not for celebrating any battle, any General, it is for remembering and for honouring those who for what ever reason, went to do or to die.
I recall the first Anzac Day March I watched in 1950, the men who marched did so with their mates, their eyes agonised in recollection, their backs were straight ,they were together as they had been in their various battles and one felt conscious that those who did not come home, were with them that day.
That is why we honour our Returned men and women, and it is good that Anzac Day is not going unremembered but grows stronger by the year.