It's ANZAC Strata Day

It’s ANZAC Day today in Australia which is a national day of remembrance to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all those who died and served in military operations for Australia and New Zealand.

So, what’s this go to do with strata?  Well I thought I use the history of the ANZACs to draw some parallels with the way sometimes strata involves –

• struggling against enormous odds and in adverse environments,
• working closely with compatriots as ‘mates’,
• survival, and
• creating a legacy for others. 

The ANZAC Story

The ANZAC force landed at Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Turkish Army commanded Atatürk. What had been planned as a bold strike to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915, the Allied forces were evacuated after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Allied Gallipoli casualties included 21,255 from the UK, an estimated 10,000 dead soldiers from France, 8,709 from Australia, 2,721 from New Zealand, and 1,358 from British India. News of the landing at Gallipoli made a profound impact on Australians and New Zealanders at home and 25 April quickly became the day on which they remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in war.

Though the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives of capturing Istanbul and knocking Ottoman Empire out of the war, the Australian and New Zealand troops' actions during the campaign bequeathed an intangible but powerful legacy. The creation of what became known as an  ANZAC legend became an important part of the national identity in both countries. This has shaped the way our citizens have viewed both their past and their understanding of the present.

So, let’s remember all those who fought and died in wars.

And, see you playing two-up later at the local pub.

Francesco …