Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders who have served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. It is held on 25 April each year, the anniversary of the 1915 landing at Gallipoli, Turkey.

Are there Anzac Day services in Arch Hill?

Anzac Day is a national public holiday in New Zealand and services are held in most communities. Check with Auckland Council or your local Returned and Services' Association (RSA) for specific times and locations of services near Arch Hill.

Why is the Anzac Day service in London at dawn?

The dawn service is a tradition started in the 1920s. The pre-dawn timing recalls the 'stand-to' routine of soldiers at the front, who had to be alert and ready for an enemy attack at first light. It is considered a particularly solemn and poignant time to remember.

Princess Royal attends Anzac Day dawn service in London

The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, has attended a sombre dawn service at Wellington Arch in London to mark Anzac Day, honouring the service and sacrifice of Australian and New Zealand soldiers.

Braving the early morning chill, the princess arrived at Hyde Park Corner shortly before the 5 am service began. The event, organised annually by the New Zealand and Australian High Commissions in London, commemorates the anniversary of the 1915 Gallipoli landings during the First World War.

The service was a poignant tribute to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) members who have served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. Princess Anne laid a wreath at the New Zealand Memorial as a mark of respect, continuing a long tradition of royal family participation in the day's commemorations.

The ceremony included a reading of John McCrae's enduring poem 'In Flanders Fields', a powerful reminder of the losses of the Great War. The service concluded with the national anthems of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia, their melodies echoing in the quiet of the London morning.

The meaning of Anzac Day

Anzac Day is one of the most sacred national occasions in both Australia and New Zealand. While it originally marked the anniversary of the landing of troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey on 25 April 1915, its meaning has broadened over the past century. The Gallipoli campaign was a bloody and ultimately unsuccessful chapter of the First World War, but the bravery and endurance shown by the Anzac troops forged a powerful legacy.

The 'Anzac spirit' came to define qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice that both nations see as central to their identity. Today, Anzac Day serves as a moment to reflect on the more than 1.5 million service personnel from both countries who have served in conflicts from the Boer War to modern peacekeeping missions. More information on the history of the day can be found at New Zealand's official history site, NZHistory.govt.nz.

Local events, such as the Art of Remembrance tribute in Arch Hill, reflect this deep connection, using music and stories to connect the past with the present and ensure the sacrifices are not forgotten.

Princess Anne at a solemn Anzac Day dawn service in London, commemorating service members. — The Princess Royal attended the Anzac Day dawn service in London.

Global commemorations

The service in London was one of many held around the world. Similar dawn services, a tradition that began in the 1920s, took place across New Zealand and Australia, from major city memorials to small country towns. Thousands also gathered at Anzac Cove in Gallipoli, Turkey, the site of the original landing, for a particularly moving tribute.

Another significant service was held in Villers-Bretonneux, a village in the Somme region of France. The town, which was recaptured and defended by Australian troops in a pivotal 1918 battle, has never forgotten its liberators. The Australian National Memorial stands just outside the town, serving as a focal point for remembrance on the Western Front.

The Royal Family's official social media account on X (formerly Twitter) posted a message honouring the occasion. “Today is #ANZACDay – which honours the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations,” the post read.

A day of reflection

The Wellington Arch service is the first of several Anzac Day events in London. The quiet, reflective nature of the dawn service contrasts with the more public ceremonials later in the day. Similar to commemorations back home, the London events provide a forum for expatriates, visitors, and official representatives to come together.

The history of our nations is deeply intertwined with moments of conflict and remembrance, with local stories often preserved in digital archives that provide a window into the past for future generations.

While some commercial air travel can be turbulent, such as a recent Air New Zealand flight that returned to Auckland, the journey of remembrance for Anzac Day continues uninterrupted across the globe.

Later on Saturday, the focus of commemoration will shift. The Princess of Wales is scheduled to attend the wreath-laying and parade service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, followed by a service of commemoration and thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, ensuring the memory of the Anzacs is honoured throughout the day.