We Will Remember Them

One hundred years ago today, the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) soldiers landed on Gallipoli to join allied forces hoping to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul) which was the capital of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany.   The attack at Gallipoli had failed and more than 8,000 Australian soldiers were killed.   However this day was not a day of shame but a day of pride.  25 April has now become the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who died in the war.  

The "Ode of Remembrance" is an ode taken from Laurence Binyon's poem, "For the Fallen", 

(Stanzas 3, 4, and 5 out of 7)

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

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.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;

They sit no more at familiar tables of home;

They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;

They shall sleep with honour as do we;