Ipswich ANZAC DAY PARADE 

25th April 2015. ANZAC DAY PARADE

2015 marked the 100th anniversary

Anzac Day was originally devised to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served in the Gallipoli Campaign

The Gallipoli Campaign (Dardanelles Campaign) 17th February 1915 – 9th January 1916.
The aims of the Campaign was to capture the Ottoman Empire’s capital Constantinople, and the opening of a new front, which would take German and Turkish forces away from Europe, North Africa and Mesopotamia. Creating a safe sea route route to Russia and the Black Sea, enabling Russia to trade goods for arms. The Campaign was an Anglo-French task force, but is better known for the contribution and fierce fighting from the Commonwealth forces from Australia and New Zealand forces – the “ANZAC” (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps). The Campaign was to fail due to poor mapping and planning. The forces landing on beaches with steep cliffs that soon became bogged down with trench warfare. Supply routes were hampered by the enemy attacks on shipping. Equipment and water were limited. Disease and heavy shelling on the narrow beach heads caused thousands of casualties.

The evacuation took place in January 1916.

It is estimated that over 50,000 British and Commonwealth died and over 100,000 sustain wounds from the Campaign. With 8,709 dead from Australia and 2,721 from New Zealand.

Hundreds of Ipswich men served in the Campaign, ether serving with the ANZAC force, or with British Regiments, many never to return home.

The Ipswich Australia Society organise an annual ANZAC Day Parade, with the support of the local Civic Office and veteran associations, including representatives from the Australian and New Zealand governments.

Suffolk man Lte. Spencer Squirrell – War Diary