During the ANZAC Centenary period, Australians all around the world have and will continue to reflect on the sacrifices made by the ANZACs. These sacrifices which helped shape the identity of Australia through exemplifying the values of courage, defence of freedom and mateship. The ANZAC tale is also one of strengthening existing alliances and forming new alliances. These ANZAC values are still as relevant today as they were back when the first boats landed at Gallipoli on the 25th April 1915. They are the pillars of Australia's national identity.
The ANZAC legacy has been portrayed in books, movies and the media throughout the last century in many different ways. However, one aspect of the ANZAC legacy which has been portrayed consistently throughout the past century is that of the courageous and brave soldier. One of the most remarkable stories of courage is that of fifteen-year-old Jack Harris. In the face of death, Jack marched off his boat and went straight into active duty, participating in the Battle of Lone Pine. Despite only being the modern equivalent of a Year Seven student, Jack was not hesitant and marched into one of the deadliest wars in mankind. Jack did not return to the boat, becoming one of the youngest ANZACs to die in combat. The courage that Jack demonstrated, to go to the other side of the world and fight in a war that he knew nothing about except the extremely high death toll, is remarkable. Courage is still readily important to modern day Australia as it represents the incredible lengths that men and women went to at that time to protect our society and culture. The courage that soldiers like young Jack Harris displayed has helped to maintain the freedom that Australians are afforded today.
One of the greatest hallmarks of modern day Australia is freedom, whether it be freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of religion or freedom of political thought. The ANZACs fought side by side with the allied powers throughout WWI in the defence of freedom. Each and every ANZAC soldier who undertook combat in WW1 did so, in defence of freedom for all. Andrew Fisher, the Prime Minister when Australia first entered the war, said Australia will fight "to our last man and our last shilling." This approach portrays the sacrifice that was willing to be made in defence of freedom. There will probably never be another generation of people who are so dedicated to serve and make sacrifices on behalf of their country. The value of sacrifice remains relevant to modern day Australia as the sacrifices which were made one hundred years ago still protect our modern-day freedom. In the 21st century, there are still soldiers, police and public servants who dedicate their life to maintain freedom both in Australia and abroad through peace, counter terrorism and defence missions.
Role of the Australian women as nurses on Lemnos and the hospital boats also reflects sacrifice and courage in the face of extraordinary circumstances. Daisy Richmond, a nurse on Lemnos, stated as they "We are well under fire many bullets coming on the decks." as they attended to patients. The recognition of this important role has been highly commended during the centenary of Anzac in a more significant way. Women in the ANZAC history have been given a louder voice than previously as this era of history is given further relevance in an age where the status of women in our society has changed and evolved.
The ANZAC's became known for their mateship by the other allied powers throughout WWI as they displayed extreme levels of friendship, loyalty and unwavering support towards all the allied powers. One example of the mateship which the ANZACs possessed was that during the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux. When the Germans captured the tactically important town of Villers-Bretonneux, the ANZACs launched a near immediate counter-attack to help re-capture the important town for the French. The mission which they led is widely acknowledged as being expertly done and very successful. There mateship was applauded by the mayor of Villers-Bretonneux in 1919 who offered them a "valorous thanks" and described them as being "spontaneous enthusiasm and characteristic dash of their race." The mateship which the ANZAC's gave to the French village in WWI helped to save their freedom and as such created a valuable relationship not only with the village but the whole of France in general. The gravity of the Villers-Bretonneux-Australia relationship is seen in the modern day through the "Australia School" and memorials and tributes to the ANZACs in Villers-Bretonneux.
The ANZACs helped strengthen and create key relationships with nations around the world. One of these alliances which was greatly strengthened was that between Australia and Greece. Many of the Australian soldiers set off from Mudros Harbour in Lemnos for Gallipoli and were given the opportunity to practise landings and gather essential supplies. These practise landings were pivotal in assisting with the operation in Gallipoli. Furthermore, throughout the campaign, Lemnos was the base for Australian medical facilities. Soldiers were treated in hospitals, some temporary Australian ones and some Greek ones, throughout the island of Lemnos. These contributions by the Greeks helped develop and strengthen the Greek-Australian relationship. Today, Australia is a multicultural nation and possesses a large Greek community, the ties which were created by the ANZACs during WWI remain relevant to the modern-day Australian Greek communities. Alliances which were formed and strengthened at the time with countries such as New-Zealand, Britain and France also help to maintain our national security and have done so over the past hundred years.
The ANZACs campaign is widely considered to symbolise the birth of an Australian identity and independence. The values that the ANZACs displayed and the alliances that they made have come to represent the pillars of modern-day Australia. Before WWI Australia, as a federated nation, had not been involved in any major world conflict. As such WWI was Australia's chance to, in the words of historian Manning Clark, "prove themselves" to the rest of the world. The enormous effort of a relatively small army throughout WWI not only proved that Australia was a reliable country but also helped set up a national identity which is built on courage, sacrifice and mateship. The values are best represented by the increasingly popular statement, "the ANZACs did the absolute best they could, with what they had available to them." The modern-day Australian identity is still built on these pillars and as such they remain as relevant as ever. The ANZAC spirit still lives on through these values.
The ANZAC Centenary period is a time where Australians should reflect on the sacrifices that both soldiers and other supporting personnel made and the courage they demonstrated as this has allowed us to live in a country which has freedom and safety. The mateship and alliances which the ANZAC's portrayed and formed helped to build key relations with nations around the world which help strengthen our national security. The importance of these relationships to national security are still very relevant given the very real threat of another major conflict developing. The ANZACs remain important to modern day Australia as they gave a fledgling nation a sense of pride, direction and purpose. The values that stem from this event have provided the basis for a strong, national identity, and without the ANZACs, our DNA would not be as formidable.