After four and a half months of training near Cairo, they were joined by a second mixed contingent and united as the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) with General W.R. Birdwood   in overall command. The Australians departed by ship for the Gallipoli peninsula, together with troops from New Zealand, Britain and France.  The Australians landed at what became known as Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915, and they established a tenuous foothold on the steep slopes above the beach. During the early days of the campaign, the allies tried to break through the Turkish lines and the Turks tried to drive the allied troops off the peninsular. All attempts ended in failure for both sides, and the ensuing stalemate continued for the remainder of 1915. The most successful operation of the campaign was in fact the evacuation of the troops on 19-20 December, under cover of a comprehensive deception operation. As a result, the Turks were unable to inflict more than a very few casualties on the retreating forces.

 Because of the circumstances of the campaign, the sacrifice, the “mateship” and individual and collective heroism, the anniversary of the initial landings of 25 April ANZAC Day has become Australia’s day of national commemoration. While ceremonies still occur on 11 November, in Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day is much more significant and has come to feature dawn services, veterans’ parades and other

commemorative services at State and community war memorials.

RMC has a direct link with ANZAC day through No 25 Major General Sir WT Bridges, KCB, CMG. General Bridges was founder and first Commandant of the Royal Military College of Australia, Duntroon, Chief of the Australian General Staff and commander of the Australian Imperial Force when it was formed in 1914. He landed with the 1st Australian Division at what became to be know as ANZAC Cove on 25 April 1915. He was severely wounded two weeks later by a sniper when inspecting the forward trenches and died on a hospital ship on 18 May 1915. His body was brought back to Australia to be buried on Mt Ainslie overlooking Duntroon. 

Until the internment of the Unknown Australian Soldier in 1993 within the Australian War Memorial, General Bridges was the only Australian killed in an overseas theatre in WW 1 to be retuned to Australia for burial. 

The unique place of ANZAC Day in Australian consciousness may be summarized by in the words used by Kemal Ataturk at Gallipoli in 1914.

Those heroes that shed their blood
And lost their lives...
You are now living in the soil of a friendly country,
Therefore rest in peace.
There is no difference between the Johnnies
And the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side
Here in this country of ours...
You, the mothers,
Who sent their sons from faraway 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.