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Anzac Day

A list of 89 words by bilby.

About

Words heard on and around Anzac Day, a public holiday in Australia on 25th April. It commemmorates the landings on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey during World War I by ANZAC forces, ie. the Australia & New Zealand Army Corps. Hence the words and terms are those that relate to Australian service personnel and their experiences over the years.

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  • ruzuzu I wondered--I have a friend who used to live in Adelaide, but I've only ever heard her talk about the Murray River. (And Tim Tams. She's forever talking about Tim Tams.)

    Thanks! Apr 25, 2012

  • bilby The Japanese battle group that attacked Pearl Harbor attacked Darwin, Australia, a few months later. Many of the servicepeople who died in that battle are buried at Adelaide River, site of the largest war cemetery in Australia's north. Traditionally there is a significant Anzac Day ceremony at Adelaide River. Note that this tiny township of Adelaide River has nothing to do with the city of Adelaide a zillion kilometres south. Apr 25, 2012

  • ruzuzu Why adelaide river? Apr 25, 2012

  • hernesheir Eric Bogle sings his very moving song The Band Played Waltzing Matilda honoring the ANZAC who fought and died at Gallipoli in this excellent YouTube photomontage. Well worth the viewing. Oct 8, 2009

  • bilby Often comes up in relation to New Guinea campaign, Kokoda Track and so on, which feature prominently in Anzac Day discourse.

    Edit: Now that I look at it, fuzzy wuzzy was originally listed here by kewpid. Jul 27, 2009

  • PossibleUnderscore Fuzzy wuzzy angel??? Since when do we hear that on Anzac day? Have I missed something? Jul 27, 2009

  • brookdale_chick I LOVE ANZAC DAY...
    IT IS SOO WARM AND FUZZY...
    but has a solomn sadness that wraps oneself in and entangles them with the vines of our youth and the momories of the fallen...
    SORRY!
    ME GOING KRAZY AGAIN..... Jul 28, 2008

  • kewpid It's bilby's list reesetee :) Apr 26, 2008

  • bilby Both added c_b. I only excluded most of Wordie (apologies) from this list because I figured most wouldn't have useful contributions. Though I expected you might :-) I remember reading 'The One Day Of The Year' in high school and have seen this book around a lot so it's in. Baptism of fire is interesting in that I always assumed the phrase was in use more widely in English-speaking countries. It's not. Another well-spotted term, many thanks. Apr 26, 2008

  • chained_bear Bilby, would the one day of the year make it to your list? Or baptism of fire? I heard those a lot when I was living in Australia. I did a project that involved interviewing a lot of Australian war veterans. Maybe these words are not used as much anymore. Apr 25, 2008

  • reesetee Oh, that's true. I suppose it's similar to the American Memorial Day, then. Apr 25, 2008

  • plethora The best part is the two-up. And the ANZAC biscuits. Apr 25, 2008

  • bilby It can be a happy day. I see a lot of the diggers enjoying themselves more than usual on this day because they feel really special. Certainly a dawn service can be very sombre, it's like a mass funeral. After that things lighten up. Apr 25, 2008

  • reesetee I don't want to say Happy Anzac Day because it isn't, but...we'll keep you in mind on the other side of the globe. :-) Great list, kewpid. Apr 25, 2008

  • plethora :( This list makes me sad. I didn't make it to our town's march this morning, which I regret, of course. Apr 25, 2008

  • bilby Thanks kewp :-) Fuzzy wuzzy's a great term, captures some of that odd sense of whimsy that accompanies adversity. Apr 25, 2008