ANZAC Day. Lest We Forget

Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose soldiers were known as Anzacs. The pride they took in that name endures to this day, and Anzac Day remains one of the most important national occasions of both Australia and New Zealand.

When war broke out in 1914, Australia had been a Federal Commonwealth for only thirteen years. In 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of an Allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula to open the way to the Black Sea for the Allied navies. The plan was to capture Istanbul, capital of the Ottoman Empire and an ally of Germany. The ANZAC force landed at Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Turkish defenders. What had been planned as a bold strike to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stale-mate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915, the Allied forces were evacuated after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Over 8,000 Australian and 2,700 New Zealand soldiers died. News of the landing at Gallipoli made a profound impact on Australians and New Zealanders at home and 25 April quickly became the day on which they remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in war.

On this day a dawn service is held in every state (a major one is held at ANZAC Cove in Gallipoli) and then a here is a march through the main streets of the major cities where all the diggers and soldiers march in their battalions displaying, with pride, the medals they have earned on their chest. After the march they head to the pubs and catch up with old mates and play two-up.

Two-up is a traditional Australian gambling game. It is also widely known as swy (also spelt swei), and this is usually explained in terms of the German word zwei, "two" (on the basis that swy uses two coins).

And the rules are thus; two up is played by players who surround a ring and take turns at being the 'spinner'; 'come in spinner' being the call for another spinner to come forward into the ring. The game is managed by a 'boxer' who oversees the game and betting and a 'ringy' or ringkeeper who looks after the coin tosses in the ring. The spinner offers a bet, which is matched. He then tosses two coins up into the air using a paddle known as a 'kip'. If the coins are both heads (Heads) he wins, if they are both tails (Tails) he loses and if they are one of each (Odds) he throws again. The boxer takes a commission out of the kitty that the spinner wins. The other punters place side bets.

And this is the Ode to the fallen:

They shall grow not old,
As we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning
We will remember them.

Lest We Forget