St John's Cathedral, Brisbane and the Anzac Legend

On the South Transept wall of St John’s Cathedral hangs the last flag flown at the evacuation of Australian and New Zealand troops from the legendary Gallipoli campaign of the First World War. The war—alternatively known as ‘The Great War’—began in the Balkans in late July 1914 and ended in November 1918, leaving 17 million dead and 20 million wounded. The war pitted Britain and its Empire (which included Australia and New Zealand), France, Russia and Serbia against Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire. The latter controlled large parts of the Middle East, including Palestine, and at its centre was Constantinople, now Istanbul, the capital of what is now modern day Turkey. The campaign at Gallipoli was the first major engagement of Australian troops in the war. It was also one of the most harrowing. The Australian soldiers, all volunteers, formed part of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) comprising the First Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Australia had enthusiastically entered the war on the side of Britain and its allies, answering the call to defend the interests of Britain as the ‘Mother Country’—Australia then forming part of the British Empire.

Queensland soldiers leaving Brisbane on a troopship bound for Egypt, where they assembled and trained before departing for Gallipoli.

State Library of Queensland

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