Preview

The Anzac Legend Essay Example

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
447 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Anzac Legend Essay Example
There are four main qualities to the ANZAC legend: an independent spirit, bravery, mateship and spirit of the bushman. The ANZAC’s defined their nations’ reputation during World War I through their display of these qualities.
The ANZAC’s were known as independent and free spirits. They were rebellious and didn’t act like orderly corps, although they were very loyal and followed commands when ordered. During the Gallipoli campaign the men were known to be slightly disrespectful towards the British Generals. Often they did not salute them as they were expected to do. They became renowned as independent people and this defined Australia as a carefree country. Their free spirited demeanour was recognised by other soldiers throughout the war and therefore became a key part of the ANZAC legend.
When the ANZAC’s landed at Gallipoli they were straight away faced with a terrible fusillade of machine guns and rifles. They jumped off their boats and charged at the enemy without preparing their guns however they managed to take the Turks first trench. This shows their amazing bravery and quick thinking without being ordered. Their legendary courage and willingness to keep going against the odds formed the basis of bravery in ANZAC legend, which was therefore created at Gallipoli.
The men at Gallipoli showed mateship throughout the war. When one soldier got injured or killed the men grieved for him and his family. At Gallipoli a truce was made with the Turks to collect the dead bodies from no mans land, however at any point the enemy could have opened fire at their opposition. Risking their lives by going into no mans land to rescue the bodies of their friends, so they didn’t rot on the ground, was an example of true mateship. The ANZAC’s are now known for their true friendships and care for one another; a very significant impression made at Gallipoli.
The inventive and creative Spirit of the Bushman was also shown during the Gallipoli campaign. It was most obvious at the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    describing the battle at Port Arthur has a lot of life in it that relates to a greater sense of Nationalism as…

    • 926 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Gallipoli campaign had such an impact because of the naivety of those in charge, who believed that we would just come in and take over with little to no retaliation from the Turks, however as we know the Turkish retaliated with great force and on the first day 2000 were killed. I believe it was this number that really made the Gallipoli campaign catch the eye of the Australian people, the number was so large after the first day of fighting that Australian people’s eyes were opened to the horror and bloodshed of war. Also some Australian people were completely against the troops being there the especially after such heavy loss, they argued that it was a waste of perfectly good troops and that nothing was to be gained. Another reason that…

    • 401 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Anzac legend describes the qualities the men displayed though their tough eight month battle of the Gallipoli campaign. Two individuals in particular had a great influence on the development of the Anzac legend. They created the basis of the legend. There names was Charles Bean, an Australian official war correspondent, and E. Ashmead…

    • 408 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the beginning of war, young Australia wanted to prove their loyalty and worth to their “mother country” which they mostly still relied on. At the time, other nations had more men in their army then Britain, so Australia was keen to provide them with soldiers. When enlisting soldiers, the government hid their true thoughts and only provided the public with the exaggerated truth. As the war went on and more people died, Australians finally realized the truth of war. Even though their opinions changed, they still provided Britain with needed soldiers. Even when the armistice was signed and the war ended, the impacts was still felt in Australia for years…

    • 735 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Australia Anzac Spirit

    • 776 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Even though the Gallipoli Campaign was deemed a disaster in terms of the loss of life suffered there and the failure to achieve a military victory, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (or ANZACs as they have become known as) became a legend. What happened at Gallipoli made them an important part of Australian culture at a time when the newly-federated nation of Australia had not yet established herself at an international level.…

    • 776 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Best Essays

    Being a new, recently independent nation, the outbreak of war provided the opportunity not only to fulfill their obligations to Britain, but also for Australia to establish itself as a country that has the manpower and support behind them to exhibit the traits of an established nation. ‘There was also a belief in society that war was a testing ground for individual and national character’[2] Australia was a product of the successful British military quests and here was the chance to prove themselves worthy on a world stage.’ What the war represented was an opportunity to say, ‘here we are right, look at us fighting’10. If society believed that war was a testing ground for individual and national character, this was certainly achieved at Gallipoli in 1915. Despite being a failed battle with ‘7823 Australians being killed and 19441 wounded with a further 70 becoming prisoners of war’[3], the ANZACS represented the values and qualities of the whole society which is still reflected in our nationalism today. Welborn (2002), describes the historic event as ‘the proving of a nations soul’[4].In essence, the failed landing at Gallipoli evoked at least the sense of nationalism many young men were inspired to enlist as a result…

    • 2047 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    Australia in World War I is known to be a divided society, with its people and its government constantly fighting. Many Australians believed that the war wasn’t theirs to fight in; others believed that they should all support its mother country Britain. Half of the government believed conscription was the way, the other half not so much. The onset of war brought in…

    • 776 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Our assault troops, mostly from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), We landed at night on the western (Aegean Sea) side of the cape. We were put stuck one mile north of their intended landing beach. In the dark, our assault constructions became mixed up, but all our troops slowly made their way inland, under growing conflict from the Ottoman Turkish guards. Not long after coming ashore the ANZAC plans were rejected, and the and crowds were terrified into battle piece-meal, and received mixed orders. Some progressive to their chosen objectives while others were diverted to other areas, then ordered to dig…

    • 130 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Courage, Endurance, Sacrifice and Mateship are the four words that embody the spirt of the Anzac. A person who deserves to be regarded as “legendary” and shows all 4 of these words is William “Billy” Sing. Born, 1886 in a small town of Clermont he grew up to be a legendary sniper. He showed courage while signing up for WW1, Sacrifice in his family life, and Mateship in his snippers and endurance during every day. Through Billy started his training in the local “Proserpine Rifle Club”.…

    • 548 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many Australians joined the war for a variety of different reasons, some wanted to prove that they are brave enough to fight in such extreme levels of danger in war, in possibility of death, also some men enlisted towards WW1 because their choice of their friends influenced them to do it, and some didn’t want to face it all alone. Some men were very poor, and needed money to…

    • 1056 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Tobruk Siege

    • 876 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Tobruk siege of eight months during the 1941 North African Campaign in World War 2 showed the positive qualities of the ANZAC legend and played a role in making Australia the independent country it is today. The campaign started with the Italian declaration of war on June 1940. The Australian soldiers of the 9th division aligned forces with the United States and Britain to fight in Tobruk, Libyan coast. One of the ANZAC qualities, show in this campaign, was the bravery the Australian soldiers demonstrated when facing dangerous threats to defend Tobruk. The Australian troops adopted the nickname, “Rats of Tobruk,” with pride as they were determined to keep fighting against all odds. Along with their Australian humour used as a method to…

    • 876 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The One Day of the Year

    • 588 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Generation- and Generation Y are very different when it comes to Anzac Day. This is because Generation- grew up in the War, where as Generation Y only hear about it. I believe this is why you see a mojority of old people at Anzac Day services,…

    • 588 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Film Analysis of Gallipoli

    • 2665 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Gallipoli, as the title suggests, is a portrayal of the historical event in which thousands of Australian soldiers went off to fight for their country. Peter Weir, the director of Gallipoli has not simply presented the facts about the war, nor has he tried to relay the story of this time, instead he has attempted to convey the legend of Gallipoli through the Australian's feelings towards the event using pre-existing myths to portray this tragedy of war.…

    • 2665 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Great War Effects

    • 557 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The effect of The Great War on Australian society was one of the most challenging impacts on Australia. During the great war 60,000 men were killed and 156,000 men were wounded, the grief and sorrow felt from the loss of the men during the great war impacted for generations. Not only were our losses one of the greatest conflict in Australian history but The Great War also began the Anzac tradition, which gradually became a part of Australian identity. Given the appalling conditions of the trenches experienced by soldiers it is not surprising they suffered numerous diseases, illnesses and mental torment from the threat of being bodily harmed or wounded. The mental anguish suffered by returning soldiers would have impacted on the men who fought…

    • 557 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    ben quilty

    • 1069 Words
    • 5 Pages

    As a result, the portraits of these Australian servicemen and women are imbued with their experience of war. They express the dangers the soldiers encountered in Afghanistan, and the complex emotions they felt on…

    • 1069 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays