The Gallipoli Myth
Let me get some things clear, before proceeding.
1) I live in Australia and love this country.
2) I married an Australian and once the country becomes a republic with an elected President, rather than Queen Elizabeth, as head of state, I shall gladly adopt Australian citizenship.
3) I lost three great-uncles in the First World War (obviously before I was born, but you know what I mean).
Australia, and to a lesser degree New Zealand, has built the whole Gallipoli myth up to dizzying heights. For example, how many Aussies here know that the British lost approximately
FIVE TIMES as many troops as Australia? How many of you knew the
French experienced an equal number of casualties as the Australians?
I recommend some of you revisionists read this article from the Sydney Morning Herald (April 22, 2002).
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/...020708943.html
Some of it may surprise you. You may also want to read this essay:
http://www.pa.ash.org.au/afssse/simp...vindin2003.htm
I'm not knocking the so-called ANZAC Spirit (though, to be honest, Johnnie Howard has done a lot to damage it in my opinion), but I'm just a bit tired of hearing how Australia and NZ were butchered more than any other nation, or commanded by bungling British officers, or displayed more herorism than any other nation at that battle. It's simply not true.
History, and not histrionics, is what we should concentrate on.
Mr Mephisto