The ANZAC Legend

The Anzac legend, which was the result of a devastating loss, rather than a great victory, has had, and continues to have a significant impact on Australia’s identity. The Australian and New Zealand soldiers demonstrated the spirit of mateship, courage, loyalty, bravery, sacrifice, heroism, dedication, honour, integrity, initiative and determination throughout the Gallipoli campaign as they battled against daunting odds. These traits have come to represent the Anzac legend, which is evident in Australia today be it in war, conflict or peacetime.

The Anzac spirit was displayed daily through the eight month conflict at Gallipoli. From the moment the Australian and New Zealand troops landed at Anzac cove the spirit of courage, loyalty, bravery, initiative, sacrifice and mateship was evident. Everyday the soldiers faced new battles. Not only battles fought with bullets, but also battles of extreme heat in summer, freezing cold in winter, fleas, flies, lice and disease. The Anzac spirit therefore became part of every Anzac soldier.

The Anzac legend is not only alive in the members of our armed forces but also in the heroic actions of some of Australia’s citizens. One of these people, who show the qualities of the Anzac legend, is Fred Hollows. Professor Fred Hollows (1929 –1993), a surgeon specialising in Ophthalmology (eye surgery) gave sight to thousands living in Australia and later in many third world countries. "There are tens of thousands of beautiful people that I have met in different parts of the world and I know that they haven't got a chance in hell. They will die early, work their guts out for no reward and they might even be brutalised before that ... " He said. Hollows sacrificed many things to help others. He had the courage and determination to continue his work even after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1989. Hollows is one of the many including sports stars, scientists, missionaries etc. who have shown the characteristics of the Anzac legend.

Then this race of athletes proceeded to scale the cliffs without responding to enemy fire. They lost some men… In less than a quarter of an hour the Turks were out of their second position, either bayoneted or fleeing…” wrote Ashmead Bartlett (Argus, 8 May 1915). This extract demonstrates how Ashmead Bartlett glorified and exaggerated the victories made by the Anzacs and romanticized the horrors of the Gallipoli campaign. His articles and those written by other corespondents such as C.E.W. Bean and John Masefields did however help the birth of the Anzac legend.

It is not only those who are well recognised that show the Anzac spirit in what they strive to do. There are thousands of people who gi

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