# It's ANZAC Day Today **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 25, 2012, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887 "2012-04-25T06:10:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/21 "2012-04-27T04:46:33Z")
Now I have another question: what’s “two-up”? ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/22 "2012-04-27T04:51:59Z")
[Two-up](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-up). ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/23 "2012-04-27T05:01:25Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > **Cunctator** and **Cicero** very nicely helped me to understand, without any snark. You’re right; i’m sorry. I was in a bad mood earlier (for reasons unrelated to this message board), and i read your message quickly, and assumed it was another one of those periodic “Why don’t you funny foreigners do things the same as us?” questions that sometimes pop up here. I should have realized you weren’t American, because Americans generally don’t call November 11 Remembrance Day; they call it Veterans Day. Anyway, my bad. I apologize. ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/24 "2012-04-27T05:15:36Z")
“Heroes who shed their blood and lost their lives! You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours. You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.” I first read this Ataturk quote here on the SDMB in an ANZAC Day thread and think it’s worth reposting. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/25 "2012-04-27T05:16:04Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Anyway, my bad. I apologize. Not to worry. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/26 "2012-04-27T05:22:47Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Now I have another question: what’s “two-up”? A game I have watched being played in Australian casinos and elsewhere. I’ve never played it, but I have certainly seen it. Do they still use the old pennies with the white-painted X on the tails side? (And what are they going to do when they cannot find any more of the old pennies?) ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/27 "2012-04-27T06:25:31Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > A game I have watched being played in Australian casinos and elsewhere. I’ve never played it, but I have certainly seen it. > > Do they still use the old pennies with the white-painted X on the tails side? (And what are they going to do when they cannot find any more of the old pennies?) There are so many variations (note two and three coin versions) that I would hazard a guess that the white paint may be something of a more recent tradition. I haven’t played it for years but I have never seen any white paint. I doubt that there will ever be a shortage of pennies even though they have been out of circulation for around 45 years. Millions (well at least hundreds and thousands of them) were made and they are easy to come by at coin shop. Even in my crappy collection I have plenty- including the pre Federation ones. Many were minted in England and India as well I understand before Australia had its own mint. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/28 "2012-04-27T06:42:18Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > I agree that this is probably the nominal reason but actually the landings were before dawn. You know that old saying “How do get an ag=rgument? Post an opinion on the Internet. Wait.” Well, so as not to disappoint anyone here goes. The original landing was supposed to be on the 23rd April but was put back two days due to weather. Birdwood had hoped to land at 3.30 am in the dark but there was also a condition that no ship was to be within 5 miles of the shore until moonset. Two days later- on the 25th- the moon set at 3 and the journey to the shore took 1 1/2 hours (there were no landing barges- they all came in towed boats). So, they landed at 4.30 am just as the sky was beginning to pale. I’ll admit it is still open to debate as the light was still very dim. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/29 "2012-04-27T07:50:02Z")
I would have thought what I posted was a fact (potentially an incorrect fact), not an opinion. I don’t know about the topic and don’t care. I just happened to have read > [@](#): > > “Without that intelligence we would have probably landed at dawn rather than before dawn and we would have probably lost 50 per cent in the boats,” Dolan tells Inquirer. in [The Australian](http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/anzac-cove-a-triumph-within-a-larger-tragedy/story-e6frg6zo-1226334675212) in the last couple of days. If it’s controversial as to whether this is correct I’ll bow out and leave it to the military trivia nerds 😉 ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/30 "2012-04-27T08:33:24Z")
_And now every April I sit on my porch And I watch the parade pass before me And I watch my old comrades, how proudly they march Reliving old dreams of past glory_ ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/31 "2012-04-27T08:36:22Z")
Gallopoli, the Battle where the ANZACs got thrown back into the sea? Why on earth is it being celebrated? If there has to be something to celebrate Australian martial might surely [August 8th](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Amiens_(1918)) is better choice which not coincidentally was a day with real decisive results unlike the Gallopoli disaster. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/32 "2012-04-27T08:38:24Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Gallopoli, the Battle where the ANZACs got thrown back into the sea? Why on earth is it being celebrated? If there has to be something to celebrate Australian martial might surely [August 8th](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Amiens_(1918)) is better choice which not coincidentally was a day with real decisive results unlike the Gallopoli disaster. Because it’s not a _celebration_ of a military victory, it’s a _remembrance_ of war and those who served, and who died. It’s not about whether the ANZACs won, it’s about sacrifice so it’s just as apt regardless of whether they “won” or “lost”. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/33 "2012-04-27T08:50:11Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > I would have thought what I posted was a fact (potentially an incorrect fact), not an opinion. I don’t know about the topic and don’t care. I just happened to have read > > in [The Australian](http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/anzac-cove-a-triumph-within-a-larger-tragedy/story-e6frg6zo-1226334675212) in the last couple of days. If it’s controversial as to whether this is correct I’ll bow out and leave it to the military trivia nerds 😉 I was trying not to be adversarial but I was quoting from The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914 - 1918 with the addendum of the official historian to clarify the matter. I’ll accept the statements of the guys who were there.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/34 "2012-04-27T08:56:07Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Gallopoli, the Battle where the ANZACs got thrown back into the sea? Why on earth is it being celebrated? If there has to be something to celebrate Australian martial might surely [August 8th](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Amiens_(1918)) is better choice which not coincidentally was a day with real decisive results unlike the Gallopoli disaster. Well Sierra Indigo has already answered the main part, and I would agree that there is far too much reference made to Galliopoli with the Western front (and middle east) where far much ANZAC action took place being somewhat ignored. BTW- the Anzacs were not “thrown back into the sea”. If you read of the campaign you would understand that a successful withdrawal was made 7 months after the landing without the loss of a single life. That is hardly thrown back into the sea as in your comment. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/35 "2012-04-27T09:02:33Z")
Just for clarification to Princhester in the post above, I’m not sure where Dolan is getting his facts so I am not sure of the Intelligence he was talking about. However, I would have thought that being landed on the correct beach rather than where the ANZACS ended up was more important than whether they landed in half light or in the dark. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/36 "2012-04-27T09:07:10Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > I know a _lot_ of Australians (and NZers, too) are surprised to discover the French (and Senegalese) as well as the Indians were involved at Gallipoli, as well. Apparently the major North American contribution was the [Blue Puttees](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Puttees) from the erstwhile Dominion of Newfoundland. They’re more famous for subsequently being virtually wiped out at Beaumont Hamel as part of the battle of the Somme. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/37 "2012-04-27T16:34:29Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > There are so many variations (note two and three coin versions) that I would hazard a guess that the white paint may be something of a more recent tradition. I haven’t played it for years but I have never seen any white paint. I may be recalling my viewing of the game in Perth’s Burswood Casino. Many players in a circle maybe three meters in diameter, surrounding the spinner; the coins being tossed at what seemed to be random times; various casino personnel constantly in motion paying out winners and taking in losing bets, and so on. Very busy; and while I understand the game, the casino version was to me, very confusing. Fun to watch, but I did not play. Anyway, I do recall the painted X on the coins in the casino. Perhaps it was there so the players and the cameras could easily see, from a distance, what the result of the toss was. But I can understand why it would not be there in a more informal game, where players are closer and have a better view. Sorry for the hijack, but thanks for the info! ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/38 "2012-04-27T17:09:08Z")
Well, I live in Perth and haven’t been to Burswood for about 2 years. I’ll do some research tomorrow- buddy can you lend me a dime? I’m sure I will return a profit! ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/39 "2012-04-28T16:17:48Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > Well Sierra Indigo has already answered the main part, and I would agree that there is far too much reference made to Galliopoli with the Western front (and middle east) where far much ANZAC action took place being somewhat ignored. > > BTW- the Anzacs were not “thrown back into the sea”. If you read of the campaign you would understand that a successful withdrawal was made 7 months after the landing without the loss of a single life. That is hardly thrown back into the sea as in your comment. While a detachment played cricket no less. Still, I maintain the fact that they wee compelled to withraw after several months is fairly clear that the operation was a failure and not exactly memorial worthy. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887/40 "2012-04-28T16:31:20Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > While a detachment played cricket no less. Still, I maintain the fact that they wee compelled to withraw after several months is fairly clear that the operation was a failure and not exactly memorial worthy. Let’s not muddy the waters about playing cricket, or whether the operation was a success. You stated “Gallopoli, the Battle where the ANZACs got thrown back into the sea?” They were not . It is insulting to all Australians and New Zealanders. Back up your facts or admit you were wrong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-anzac-day-today/619887.md?page=3)