Anzac Day poppies brighten a property in Tapanui, West Otago, New Zealand. Taken 25 April 2020 by Liz. Marks the anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign of the First World War. More info
I love the bright red stylized poppies! I must confess, Liz, that I knew almost nothing about ANZAC Day and did not realize previously how important this day of commemoration is in both New Zealand and Australia.
Over 2700 NZers were killed in the Gallipoli Campaign, 18,000 killed in WW1. It affected every little community in NZ, there are numerous memorials scattered throughout our NZ countryside – even in tiny localities that have nothing else save farms nearby.
Thanks for the additional details, Liz. My understanding is that the focus of the commemoration has now been expanded to included those who have served and died in other wars and conflicts as well, a little bit like Memorial Day in the US.
Yes that’s right but the pain from the 1914-18 deaths and injured is still felt and not forgotten. Losing so many men from all over NZ completely changed our rural areas and had enormous social repercussions. It was the beginning of the end of calling Britain “the home country” or “the mother country”. Ha! After you responded I felt curious about WW1 veterans in NZ. From Wikipedia I found the last veteran here was Bright Williams who died 13 Feb 2003 at 105 yrs. His entry says 100,444 NZers fought in the war, amazing so many went when our population was so much smaller back then! The table, by country, is at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_last_World_War_I_veterans_by_country
I love the bright red stylized poppies! I must confess, Liz, that I knew almost nothing about ANZAC Day and did not realize previously how important this day of commemoration is in both New Zealand and Australia.
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Over 2700 NZers were killed in the Gallipoli Campaign, 18,000 killed in WW1. It affected every little community in NZ, there are numerous memorials scattered throughout our NZ countryside – even in tiny localities that have nothing else save farms nearby.
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Thanks for the additional details, Liz. My understanding is that the focus of the commemoration has now been expanded to included those who have served and died in other wars and conflicts as well, a little bit like Memorial Day in the US.
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Yes that’s right but the pain from the 1914-18 deaths and injured is still felt and not forgotten. Losing so many men from all over NZ completely changed our rural areas and had enormous social repercussions. It was the beginning of the end of calling Britain “the home country” or “the mother country”. Ha! After you responded I felt curious about WW1 veterans in NZ. From Wikipedia I found the last veteran here was Bright Williams who died 13 Feb 2003 at 105 yrs. His entry says 100,444 NZers fought in the war, amazing so many went when our population was so much smaller back then! The table, by country, is at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_last_World_War_I_veterans_by_country
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