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In Australia and New Zealand we remember the people who went to one of the Wars. ANZAC Day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by the Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. On this day the 25th April we commemerate the fallen war heros and their families.  A dawn service is held which was the original time of the landing, from there each major city and smaller towns hold a parade for these brave people who gave their lives for us.

The day was chosen as it was the day that the troops landed at Gallipoli, meeting fierce resistance from the Turkish defenders. In London in 1916 over 2.000 Australian and New Zealand troops stationed in London marched through the streets of the city. In other cites where there where troups stationed they also celebrated the day.

The day includes the Dawn Service, Laying of Wreaths in memory of the dead which sometimes have Laurel and Rosemary in them, Laurel and Rosemary are associated with ANZAC Day as Laurel was used as a symbol of honour, which was woven into wreath's by accient Romans to crown victors and brave. Rosemary is commenly associated with rememberance. Lately Poppies are being used on the day as the grow profusely in Palenstine. In 1940 each soldier dropped a poppy as he filed past the Stone of Remberance. The last post which is played on Trumpet is played which was usually played to mark the end of the night or mark the end of the days activities, it is also sounded at military funerals and commentrative services to indicate the soldiers day has come to an end. A two minute silence is held in a mark of respect for the soldiers that did not return.

Two men that are remembered are the Pony men. One was John Simpson Kirtpatrick, he came from Durham in England he signed up as John Simpson in Australia thinking he would be sent to France first so he could visit his family before going, but was sent to Gallipoli. The legend of Simpson is that on the night of April 25 he annexed a donkey, each day and half of every night, he worked between the head of Monash Valley and the beach facing shrapnel fire he would return with his donkey he named "Murphy" with the blooded figure on the donkey his arm across the hurt soldier. His comanding officer made it that Simpson had to report to his ambulance unit each day. The last report Simpson made was when he and his donkey, called at the unit on May 19. Later that day moving back along a creek bed, a wonded man leaning on his shoulder and another on Murphy's back. A shell burst close above them. Both men where wounded again, Simpson was killed instantly by a piece of shrapnel in his heart, he was 23.
The other man was James Henderson, he came from a place called Kihikihi on the North Island, he and his brother Jack enlisted with the Auckland Mounted Rifles, James acquired a donkey and a reputation for unshaken bravery under fire. He took to moving wounded men, he lived longer than Simpson.

Both their bodies still lie in a Dardanelles grave.

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