Negatives of the legend
Introduction
There are not many Australians who are not familiar with the Anzac legend. In just about every Australian family there is an ancestor who has served, not just in World War I but in any of the wars or major conflicts in Australia's history. Younger generations are also having the legend passed down to them. It is taught in primary and secondary school curricula nationwide and Anzac day ceremonies are held annually at schools.
The Anzac legend is a large and heartening part of Australian culture. For that reason, people who question the relevance of the Anzac legend are often regarded as unpatriotic. As a consequence, it is not widely known that people argue that there are negative implications and repercussions of the legend itself.
The Immediate Impact
One of the negative impacts of the Anzac legend is that directly after World War I, Australian society found itself divided between those who went to war and those who did not. It was a common sight for able-bodied men who had been to Gallipoli (and had returned home early to resume their lives), to wear Anzac rosettes on their uniforms and civilian clothes. The rosettes were blue, white and red and were worn to signify that they had been to the War and had not relinquished their duty, as people may have thought.
Men who were within the age and fitness requirements to go to war and who had not volunteered were looked down upon in society. There was much pressure from their families and friends to join as a way of showing their patriotism and to impress women. Those who had served and had since returned were adamant they did not want to be associated with the men who had the reputation of being a coward.
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There was also concern that the Anzac legend was distorted, the stereotypical image of the ANZAC soldier excluding women, Aborigines and people from city areas.
While women were not allowed to enlist and fight as soldiers in Gallipoli, from the time of the landing they were there too, working as nurses on board hospital ships. Often without proper equipment and supplies, these women relied on their own resourcefulness in attending to wounded soldiers as the ships sailed to general hospitals on nearby Greek islands and to Alexandria in Egypt. The nurses were not entirely removed from danger. At times, bullets hit the decks of their ships. Having such a close involvement in the War and playing such a vital role, it was not surprising that women were displeased with not being recognised and included in the ANZAC legend.
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It could be inferred that while Aboriginal people did not necessarily value fighting for the Empire, they were keen to fight for their country and families. This is evident in the fact that between 300 and 400 Indigenous Australians fought in World War I, defying the Australian Government and the Defence Act of 1909 which did not permit Aborigines even to enlist. It was not until the start of World War II that the Australian Defence Force permitted people who were not of 'substantially European descent' to enlist in any of the services. Once the restrictions were lifted, a number of Aboriginal men and women enlisted for service. It was too late, however, for those who wanted to show their patriotism by fighting for their country, and for the opportunity to be a part of the Anzac legend.
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Australian men who had fought in Gallipoli and who had not had a rural upbringing were also unimpressed with the stereotype that emerged from the Anzac legend. They felt that they had been excluded. They believed the legend focused too much on the notion that the tactics and skills that the soldiers exhibited were attributes of their 'bush backgrounds.' There were in fact many men who enlisted from metropolitan areas and they considered themselves to be equally as resourceful and to possess the same characteristics as did ANZACs from the country.
Repercussions for society today
Some of the issues that were raised with the Anzac legend directly after the War have continued to resurface. In the 1970s and 1980s the subject of the relevance of the Anzac legend to women and multicultural Australia, re-emerged. This continues to be debated. It is thought that such criticism could come only from a person who has misinterpreted the legend.
It has also been suggested that the Anzac legend glorifies war and allows for war to be justified by its ability to unify the nation. Perhaps this is the reason the Anzac legend is often referred to by politicians and prime ministers whenever Australian troops are being sent to fight overseas.
While some people may disagree with the implications of the Anzac legend or believe it to be distorted, it cannot be denied that our soldiers who fought so bravely at Gallipoli helped to create a proud national reputation that has earned the respect of people worldwide.
