Pastor Pen 25th April 2021

ANZAC Day: ANZAC stands for Australian New Zealand Army Corps. During the First World War, many ANZAC soldiers died on Turkish shores. In 1915 ANZAC troops set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula. They planned to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul), which was the capital of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of the Germans. The ANZAC troops landed on the beach at Gallipoli on April 25, but the Turkish troops met them with fierce resistance. For 8 months the assault carried on. Our troops were trying to secure for the British Empire and its French allies, the oil reserves located in Ottoman. The Battle of Gallipoli cost 187,959 allied lives. This was a great victory for the Turks, despite themselves loosing 161,828 soldiers in battle. Winston Churchill masterminded the Gallipoli campaign which was deemed an utter failure. 2,779 Kiwi soldiers died at Gallipoli. 5,212 were wounded.
On ANZAC Day we remember the Australian and NZ military personnel who have died during war. 300,000 New Zealanders have served their country in times of war and 30,000 have died in service. The red poppy has become a symbol across the world that commemorates fallen soldiers during war. Dawn services are held because this was about the time ANZAC soldiers approached the Gallipoli beach.

“God, You are a God of peace and love. War is not your ideal for humanity. That said, we are grateful for the men and women soldiers who have lost their lives while trying to protect innocent lives in our country. Today we remember them.”