The soldiers faced numerous battles from the moment they landed at Anzac Cove until they left Gallipoli. While specific battles were well-documented examples of courage at Gallipoli, every day a soldier lived on the front, and every action, was an act of bravery. For example, obtaining water endangered a soldier's life. However, the soldiers accepted the need to undertake these dangerous duties. They did not see themselves as brave, but ‘scared stiff’. Private McAnulty recounted a similar view of the dangerous Gallipoli landing, "The fumes are suffocating, the shrapnel is pouring all round us getting chaps everywhere." The recognition of acts of bravery by others seems to be another aspect of this Anzac spirit.
Mateship created strong bonds between the men who landed at Anzac Cove, and was essential to their emotional and physical survival. These bonds in many cases were nothing but humour and sharing, which were used to reduce the tension and helped many soldiers cope. A sort of love and trust in one another developed in the trenches. The 'Gallipoli Campaign also relied on the Anzac soldier's willingness to sacrifice his life, health and future. A soldier needed great determination to continue the daily battle at Gallipoli. Many men sacrificed their lives to save others, for example, John Simpson Kirkpatrick and his donkey Duffy had carried wounded men down Monash and Sharpnel Valley to safety. He showed a great deal of courage and bravery in order to save others. All these men not only fought with great courage but with honour on the field of battle. They had embraced the Anzac spirit and developed the values it beholds throughout their life.
During the war there was a group of people who were rarely acknowledged for their important role during the war. This group was the nurses. The nurses worked very close to the front line and were often in danger because of the enemy. These nurses showed bravery and were determined to try save as many lives as possible. The nurses brought the soldiers back from the brink of death and often restored their faith in life. In some cases both nurses and soldiers formed friendships that lasted a lifetime. As well as individual courage and determination of all individual Australians, they also fought with the same mentality. For every mission ranging from the washing of clothes to the fighting of a major battle was done with complete concentration and strong intentions.
The Anzac spirit is reflected by thousands of everyday Australians who have never achieved such recognition but have demonstrated the same values of devotion, sacrifice and. heart that became evident through the Anzacs at Gallipoli throughout their life. The Anzac spirit at Gallipoli in 1915, a display persistence has been accomplished again both in war and in other fields. The Anzac spirit can be seen today through the willingness of Australians to help others in every situation and when they are asked to help a nation as they were in 1914, as a country they will display courage, determination, sacrifice and mateship. The Anzac spirit remains as relevant today as it was in 1914, and provides a strong model for us to respect and look back on.
Robert Struk
Bibliography
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Mckernan, S, Australians At War – Gallipoli, Hedder and Stroughlon, Lane Cove, NSW, 1985.
- Microsoft Encarta 2003 Standard Edition.
- Britannica 2002 Standard Edition.
- 1998 World Book encyclopedia.
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Kemp and Phillips. A Century of Change, Longman, Sydney, 1994
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Grant, N., Journey Through History, Gallery Books, United States, 1991.
