ANZAC Day

From the outset, pubic perception of the landings at Anzac Cove were imbued with strong feelings of national pride, newspapers gushed about the heroism of the New Zealand soldiers, when the campaign failed its sanctity was enhanced in the public’s mind, the courage and sacrifice of the New Zealanders in adversity highlighted.

Demands for remembrance on the anniversary of the landing, both as a public expression of grief and as a means of rallying support for the war effort, were soon being heard. The anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli on 25th April, 1915 quickly became a focus for commemoration of New Zealand's war dead. The first anniversary in 1916 not only saw a parade in London by men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and a service in Westminster Abbey, but it also saw the first ceremonies and events to mark the day occur in New Zealand.

In August 1916 returned soldiers succeeded in lobbying for use of the word ‘Anzac’ prohibited for trade or business purposes, further enshrining the Anzac myth and the sacredness of the commemoration. Ceremonies held on ANZAC day were an opportunity to stimulate patriotism in which the righteousness of war and New Zealand’s place in the empire were stressed. However they also served as a focus for communities, far from the conflict, to mourn the loss of family members and friends.

After the war the services quickly lost their overt patriotic function, and took on more of the aspects of mourning and remembrance of the war dead. Services in public halls or churches were replaced in the 1920s by commemorations at newly erected war memorials. In 1921, after persistent lobbying by the RSA, the day became a public holiday. The ceremony of remembrance on ANZAC Day has continually adapted to the times but has also steadily acquired extra layers of symbolism and meaning, with much stress on nationhood and remembrance.