ANZAC day should be a big event in the Commonwealth calendar. Obviously, some Canadian and ANZAC troops had fought for Britain before, most notably in the Boer Wars a decade previously. However, Galipoli is so important because it was the first time that a sizable Anglo Australian and New Zealander force had gone into action. It didn't acheive anythin, but it is the stories of courage, heroism, compassion (and even a game of Cricket) in an environment better described as one "from hell" as one correspondent put it that inspire and register most on the psyche both nationally and internationally. The fact that Turk and ANZAC have now made their peace in what was the most collssal misunderstanding of the 20th century is result of this bloody conflict.
Today we remember the heroes of Afghanistan, who despite not being in NATO and being of small number, have made an immeasurable contribution to the gradual recovery of what is one of the worlds most wartorn nations.
The Irish were present everywhere in both wars. In the Second World War, there was still sizable Irish recruitment because they disagreed with Irish neutrality in the face of totalitarianism or (more likely) because of gauranteed work and pay (especially if they joined the Commandos or Parachute regiment). Rememberance Day remembers all who took the King/Queen's shilling, regardless of colour, religion or nationality.
