Over the past 100 years, from the beginning of the first World War in 1914, a large portion of Australian identity has been influenced by the ANZACs, who volunteered to defend their nation and ensure safety for future generations of Australians. The ANZAC Legacy is a standard held very close to my family, and many others, as I will explain further in this essay. To me, the ANZAC legacy means knowing that my Grandfather sacrificed his life and the livelihood of this family to bring back peace in the ever changing world.
My Opa was a Lance Bombardier trained at Swan Barracks, Perth. Francis Forbes Farrelly was enlisted in the Australian Military Forces on the 26th of April 1940 at the age of 27 as an unmarried insurance clerk, looking to serve…show more content… It is saddening to think this was happening, and that humans were making it happen. Although the odds were stacked against them, the ANZACS pulled through and came out on top. The pride every Australian has for these incredibly brave men and women is so strong, a large percentage of Australian literature, art, music, poetry and rich history comes from the influence of the ANZACs of the 20th century. If not for these extraordinary Australians, our country and the legacy it holds would be tremendously different from what it is now; as would our standard of life and the ‘Great Australian Dream’ would be more closely compared to a nightmare. The pride of these people we hold so dearly that we see on days like ANZAC Day is such a strong part of our patriotism and what it means to be an Australian. Australian Identity has been described with the qualities of mateship, which we hear about in the heroic stories of ANZAC triumphs; larrikinism, demonstrated by the light hearted humour of Australians; and egalitarianism, the idea that every person is equal, despite what side they’re on. These qualities demonstrated by our diggers have shaped the Australian soul and its modern history as a