When talking about the ANZAC legend, do we pay too much attention to the experience of Australian soldiers at Gallipoli and not enough attention to the experience of Australian soldiers on the Western Front?
The ANZAC legend is an important part of what it means to be Australian. It was born on the 25th of April, 1915 when the ANZAC corps landed on Gallipoli. During the eight months of fighting on Gallipoli Australian troops showed great courage, endurance, initiative, discipline and mateship. These qualities are now known as the ANZAC Spirit. The stereotype of ANZAC Spirit is rejecting unnecessary restrictions, possessing a sardonic sense of humour, being contemptuous of danger and proving yourself the equal of anyone on the battle field. These characteristics were carried throughout the war by ANZAC troops fighting on the Western Front.
Gallipoli is located in the Turkish Trace –the European part of Turkey. The Aegean Sea is located to the west and the Sea of Marma and the Dardanelles Strait is located to the east. Troops would train in Egypt near the pyramids then sail to the Greek island of Lemnos (100km from Gallipoli), before fighting on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
The Western Front was
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Once victorious the Allies would open a new front in the Balkans and strike the ‘soft underbelly’ of the Central Powers and ultimately win the war. The Ottomans attack Russian ports in the Black Sea attempting to regain territory from the Russians in Caucasus, and Russia asked Britain and France for help. The Ottomans have control of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits (valuable sea routes) which are the gateway between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, if the Allies were to take control of the straits they could ship munitions to Russia and Russian ships that were currently trapped could sail