Anzac day

[Hines (Bill)]

Today is Anzac Day which commemorates the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) soldiers who fought at Gallipoli during World War I. It began on April 25, 1916, one year after the Australian and New Zealand forces landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey.

Over time, Anzac Day has evolved to honor all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. It’s marked with ceremonies, parades, and the dawn service, reflecting on the sacrifices made by those who served their countries. Generally after the (still well attended) dawn services large numbers of people end up at their local RSL. It’s a big day here and a bit of new Anzac history is usually re-told.

The RSL ( Returned and Services League of Australia) has a web page with A brief history of WW II Railways called the Railways go to War.

It is a medium sized read (but with lots of pictures) that illustrate what happened from a railway perspective during the war years and how unprepared Australia was for war at the time. It also shares how MacArthur’s visit to Oz influenced Australian railway history; the demise of the Australian Garratt. and the 10 locomotives that were successfully transported through submarine infested from Canada and the USA ending up in Oz.

[Neil_Wiggins]

Lest we forget.

Thanks for posting Bill.

[Eric_Mueller]

Bill,

Thanks for the reminder. I have had the privilege of working alongside your countrymen over the years, as peer, senior, and subordinate. Their steadfast determination to uphold the legacy of their forbearers has always served as an inspiration.

To your Honored Fallen, Sir.

-Eric

[Hines (Bill)]

ANZAC Day:

Today

ANZAC Day, observed on April 25 each year, commemorates the landing of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) troops at Gallipoli, Turkey in 1915, marking the beginning of the ill-fated Gallipoli Campaign during World War I. The day honors all those who have served and died in military conflicts. While ANZAC Day is primarily associated with World War I, it has become a day of remembrance for all who served in subsequent wars.

Every year, neighbourhoods of Aussies and Kiwis in cities, suburbs and towns get up before dawn and gather near their local RSL memorials for the dawn service. The dawn service runs generally run until sunrise. Those New Zealanders and Australians not at home often visit memorials in other countries to take part. When we travelled to Thailand we came across 2 more gathering spots. In keeping with Anzac Railways I thought I might mention Hellfire Pass and the Bridge over the River Kwai.

Hellfire Pass:
Hellfire Pass is a section of the Thailand-Burma Railway, also known as the Death Railway, constructed between 1942 and 1943. The railway was built under brutal conditions by Allied prisoners of war (POWs) and Asian laborers who were forced into the project. Hellfire Pass is notorious for the extreme hardships faced by the workers, including grueling work, inadequate food, disease, and brutal treatment by their guards. The pass earned its name due to the eerie glow of fire used to illuminate the workers’ labor at night, as they used primitive tools to cut through solid rock. Thousands of men died in the construction of this railway.

The Bridge over the River Kwai:
You may recall the story of the bridge through the 1957 film The Bridge on the River Kwai, which depicted the experiences of the POWs involved. Though it has been replaced by iron and steel, The Bridge over the River Kwai is another famous landmark associated with the Burma Railway. The bridge was part of a larger infrastructure project that connected Thailand and Burma, aimed at facilitating the movement of Japanese troops and supplies. The bridge was constructed by POWs and laborers under the same horrific conditions.

Both locations are important to the legacy of ANZAC Day, and the ceremonies held there each year help keep the memories of those who suffered alive.

Lest we forget.