Today April 25th every day is our country's national ANZAC day - meaning Australia New Zealand Army Corps. The date specifically marks the anniversary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand soldiers on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915 but now it covers all of our loved ones who have fought and still fight in the military.
This photo, above was taken at Auckland Museum about 3 years ago and that's my daughter standing beside this particular exhibition (because she's horse mad). This one tells the story of the horses that were sent into both the 1st and 2nd World Wars. Approx 10,000 horses were sent into World War 1 to places such as German Samoa, the Middle East, Gallipoli and the Western Front - just 4 made it home.
As we are all in lockdown here no one is able to get out this morning to their local ANZAC ceremonies so people and families have been showing decorations on their houses and in their front yards in some very creative ways. You can see some of their ideas here.
Just about every family here in NZ has their own ancestor who fought in a war and kiwis are extremely patriotic - this is one of our family heroes. This is my dad's uncle Neville Franks my dad is named the same after him - he fought in the 2nd World War and us buried in Monte Cassino Cemetery in Italy - I'd like to go there one day.
Who is your family hero?
Comments
I had an uncle who was an Admiral in the Navy who led a flotilla of destroyers that performed the first naval bombardment of the Japanese homeland in WWII.
And, being half-German I have to add: None of my family had to join WWII. My Father´s Father was the only watch maker in town and stayed home.