The ANZAC Legend Australia’s involvement in the First World War began when Britain and Germany went to war on 4 August 1914, pledging full support for Britain. As in many different places, the outbreak of war was met in Australia with great enthusiasm. On 25 April 1915 with troops from New Zealand, Britain, and France, members of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) landed on Gallipoli in Turkey. This began a campaign that ended with an evacuation of the allied troops beginning in December 1915. The ANZAC legend surrounding this landing and the ANZAC spirit has had much debate over whether it is a myth or reality. The story of the ANZACs at Gallipoli remains an important part of Australia’s identity even today, so it is imperative that the record is set straight for what really happened. A thorough examination of the landing at Gallipoli, the minimal requirements to join the army, and the contradictory actions of the soldiers at Gallipoli all prove that the Anzac legend is a myth. The minimal physical standards of the soldiers at Gallipoli were very low, and this impacted greatly upon the overall performance of the soldiers at …show more content…
The minimal requirements affected the landing and trench warfare adversely and slowed it down majorly, Some actions completed by the ANZACs at Gallipoli were contradictory to the ANZAC legend such as the ‘Bully beef incident’ and the temperament and attitude of the popular Jack Kirkpatrick (Simpson and his donkey), and The landing at Gallipoli and following battles failed, due to ANZACs going against orders. These were all major factors that contribute to why the ANZAC legend is a myth. The ANZAC legend is an important part of Australia’s identity, and it should be represented as to how it actually happened, not a biased