Military History of the Anzacs

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

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Assigning the Anzac Name

• Second Boer War: The name did not exist
• First World War: Anzacs, World War I
• Second World War: Anzacs, World War II
• Korean War: The name did not exist
• Vietnam War: 3 amalgamated units existed:
  • 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment New Zealand (ANZAC) later replaced by
  • 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment New Zealand (ANZAC) only to later itself be replaced by
  • 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment New Zealand (ANZAC)

ANZAC is the acronym for Australia and New Zealand Army Corps, which was formed early in the First World War. Its name was given to the cove at the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey, where the corps landed and over 10,000 lost their lives in the Gallipoli Campaign from April to December 1915. Following the evacuation of Gallipoli, the combined nation component of ANZAC became the First ANZAC Corps ( I ANZAC); later changing to II ANZAC when the New Zealand Division was re-located. These corps fought on the Western Front; in France and Belgium. The ANZAC Mounted Division, comprised of the 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade, 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade and New Zealand Light Mounted Rifles, fought in the Middle East from 1916 to 1918.

For some six weeks, during the Greece - Crete Campaign of April - May 1941, Australian and New Zealand soldiers fought side-by-side as the ANZAC Corps. Not very well known, No. 455 Squadron (RAAF) and No. 489 Squadron (RNZAF) were known as ANZAC Wing during the first half of 1944; tasked with conducting operations to keep German vessels clear of the English Channel during the build-up to, and conduct of, the D-Day landings.

During the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, three Australian infantry battalions each included two New Zealand companies, making them the 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment / NZ (ANZAC), 4 RAR / NZ (ANZAC), and 6 RAR / NZ (ANZAC); truly ANZACs.

Growing the trees of ANZACs and building thorough biographies and profiles is but part of this project; much of that comes under other Military & War Projects, namely The Great War 1914-1918 Project, World War Two Project, Korean War Project, and Vietnam War Project. The ANZACs military service not only defined their lives and later contribution to society, but collectively has also been a significant influence on Australian and New Zealand society, culture, and national identity. The main aim of this project is to commemorate the The ANZAC Spirit: Aussies and Kiwis displaying the qualities of gallantry, perseverance, resilience and selflessness, their soldiers exemplified firstly on the battlefields of Gallipoli. To put it another way, recording the units, battles, and rolls of honour fulfills the other M&W Projects; recording the experiences, hopes, fears, etc, in the midst of chaos and bloodshed will highlight that ANZAC Spirit. In this way, the ANZAC Project is able to reach beyond the actual ANZACs, to include those Aussies and Kiwis who have served in theatres beyond the ANZACs; the sailors, airmen, nurses, non-combatants, and those who did not see action.

ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand is held on the 25th April, marking the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces together during the First World War, and is arguably Australia and New Zealand's most well-known national occasion and the only circumstance where two sovereign nations share the one commemoration. It is today the most well-known of the annual memorial days – Boer War Day (Sunday prior to 31st May), Remembrance Day (11th November; formerly Armistice Day), Kapyong Day (23rd April), and Vietnam Veterans Day (18th August; formerly Long Tan Day) – that commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australian and New Zealand military personnel from all wars. The symol of ANZAC remembrance is rosemary. The Flanders poppy is the symbol of Remembrance Day (originally called Armistice Day).

Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and gave its name to the Gallipoli cove at which the 25th April 1915 landings were made. Anzac Day remains one of the most important national occasions of both Australia and New Zealand, a rare instance of two sovereign countries not only sharing the same remembrance day, but making reference to both countries in its name, When war broke out in 1914, Australia and New Zealand had been dominions of the British Empire for thirteen and seven years respectively.

In Australia, the outbreak of World War I was greeted with considerable enthusiasm. Even before Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914, the nation pledged its support alongside other states of the British Empire and almost immediately began preparations to send forces overseas to participate in the conflict. The first campaign that Australians were involved in was in German New Guinea after a hastily raised force known as the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force was dispatched from Australia to seize German possessions in the Pacific in September 1914. At the same time another expeditionary force, initially consisting of 20,000 men and known as the First Australian Imperial Force (AIF), was raised for service overseas.

• Source

• Military History of Australia WW1 Wikipedia

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Australia entered World War II shortly after the invasion of Poland, declaring war on Germany on 3 September 1939. By the end of the war, almost a million Australians had served in the armed forces, whose military units fought primarily in the European theatre, North African campaign, and the South West Pacific theatre. In addition, Australia came under direct attack for the first time in its post-colonial history. Its casualties from enemy action during the war were 27,073 killed and 23,477 wounded.

In effect, Australia fought two wars between 1939 and 1945 – one against Germany and Italy as part of the British Commonwealth's war effort and the other against Japan in alliance with the United States and Britain. While most Australian forces were withdrawn from the Mediterranean following the outbreak of war in the Pacific, they continued to take part in large numbers in the air offensive against Germany. From 1942 until early 1944, Australian forces played a key role in the Pacific War, making up the majority of Allied strength throughout much of the fighting in the South West Pacific. The military was largely relegated to subsidiary fronts from mid-1944, but continued offensive operations against the Japanese until the war ended.

For some six weeks, during the Greece - Crete Campaign of April - May 1941, Australian and New Zealand soldiers fought side-by-side as the ANZAC Corps. This was the only occasion that the term was used during the war.

• Source

• Military History of Australia WW11 Wikipedia

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The military history of Australia during the Korean War was very eventful. Japan's defeat in World War II heralded the end to 35 years of Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula. The surrender of Japan to the Allied forces on 2 September 1945 led to the peninsula being subsequently divided into North and South Koreas, with the North being occupied by troops from the Soviet Union, and the South, below the 38th parallel, being occupied by troops from the United States.

The Soviet forces entered the Korean peninsula on 10 August 1945, followed a few weeks later by the American forces who entered through Incheon. U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John R. Hodge formally accepted the surrender of Japanese forces south of the 38th Parallel on 9 September 1945 at the Government House in Seoul.

Although both rival factions tried initially to diplomatically reunite the divided nation, it was the Northern faction that eventually decided to try and do so with military force. Troops from the Soviet backed North Korean Army crossed the 38th parallel on 25 June 1950 beginning a civil war.

The invasion of South Korea came as a surprise to the United Nations. The same day the war had officially begun (25 June), the United Nations immediately drafted UNSC Resolution 82, which called for:

all hostilities to end and North Korea to withdraw to the 38th Parallel; a UN Commission on Korea to be formed to monitor the situation and report to the Security Council; l UN members to support the United Nations in achieving this, and refrain from providing assistance to the North Korean authorities.

The Liberal government of Australia, led by Prime Minister Robert Menzies, immediately responded to the UN resolution by offering military assistance. 17,000 Australians served in the Korean War between 1950 and 1953, and they suffered 339 dead, and 1200 wounded. At no time during the Korean War was the term ANZAC used.

• Source

• Australians in the Korean War Wikipedia

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Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War began as a small commitment of 30 men in 1962, and increased over the following decade to a peak of 7,672 Australians deployed in South Vietnam or in support of Australian forces there. The Vietnam War was the longest and most controversial war Australia has ever fought. Although initially enjoying broad support due to concerns about the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia, as Australia's military involvement increased a vocal anti-war movement developed. To a large extent this focused upon conscription, which had been an issue in Australia dating back to the First World War; however, considerable portions of society were opposed to the war on political and moral grounds.

The withdrawal of Australia's forces from South Vietnam began in November 1970 when 8 RAR completed its tour of duty and was not replaced. A phased withdrawal followed, and by 11 January 1973 Australian involvement in hostilities in Vietnam had ceased. Nevertheless, Australian troops from the Australian Embassy Platoon remained deployed in the country until 1 July 1973, and Australian forces were deployed briefly in April 1975, during the Fall of Saigon, to evacuate personnel from the Australian embassy. Approximately 60,000 Australians served in the war; 521 were killed and more than 3,000 were wounded.

On three occasions, units deployed to South Vietnam comprised both Australian and New Zealand soldiers and were referred to as the 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment / NZ (ANZAC), 4 RAR / NZ (ANZAC), and 6 RAR / NZ (ANZAC).

• Source

• Military History of Australia in the Vietnam War Wikipedia