Quiz of the Day
ANZAC Day & Military History
Saturday, 25 April 2026
111th anniversary of Gallipoli — WWI facts, military history, remembrance traditions
1. What does ANZAC stand for?
- Australian and New Zealand Armed Coalition
- Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
- Allied Nations Zone of Active Combat
- Australian and New Zealand Army Command
The ANZAC forces first saw action at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. Despite the failed campaign, the date became a defining moment of national identity for both Australia and New Zealand.
2. At what time are dawn services traditionally held on ANZAC Day?
- 4:00 AM
- 6:00 AM
- 4:28 AM
- 5:30 AM
4:28 AM was the time the first ANZAC troops landed at Gallipoli. Dawn services began in the 1920s and now take place across Australia, New Zealand, and at the Gallipoli site itself.
3. Which country did the Allies fight against at Gallipoli?
- Austria-Hungary
- Bulgaria
- Ottoman Empire (Turkey)
- Germany
The Gallipoli campaign aimed to capture Istanbul and open a supply route to Russia. The Ottoman defence was brilliantly led by Mustafa Kemal (later Atatürk), who would go on to found modern Turkey.
4. What flower is associated with ANZAC Day remembrance in Australia?
- Wattle
- Rosemary
- Poppy
- Cornflower
Rosemary grows wild on the Gallipoli peninsula and has been associated with remembrance since ancient times. Australians wear rosemary sprigs on ANZAC Day, while poppies are more associated with Remembrance Day.
5. How long did World War I last?
- 3 years
- 5 years
- 4 years
- 6 years
WWI lasted from July 28, 1914 to November 11, 1918 — 4 years, 3 months, and 14 days. The armistice was signed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
6. What were the traditional biscuits made for soldiers in WWI called?
- Hardtack
- Army crackers
- ANZAC biscuits
- Damper biscuits
ANZAC biscuits were made with oats, sugar, flour, coconut, butter, golden syrup, and bicarbonate of soda — no eggs, so they'd survive the long sea voyage to the troops. They're still a beloved tradition today.
7. What was 'No Man's Land' in WWI?
- A code name for a secret mission
- The land between opposing trenches
- An uninhabited island
- A military prison
No Man's Land could be as narrow as 7 metres or as wide as several hundred metres. The ground was often cratered, muddy, and covered with barbed wire — crossing it was extraordinarily dangerous.
8. Which Australian soldier is considered the most decorated of WWI?
- Sir John Monash
- Albert Jacka
- Harry Murray
- Simpson and his donkey
Henry 'Harry' Murray received the Victoria Cross, DSO and Bar, DCM, Croix de Guerre, and was mentioned in dispatches five times — making him the most decorated Allied soldier of WWI.
9. What game is traditionally played on ANZAC Day in Australia?
- Rugby league
- Cricket
- Aussie Rules football
- Two-up
Two-up is a coin-tossing game that is illegal in Australia on every day except ANZAC Day, when it's played in pubs and RSL clubs nationwide. Soldiers played it in the trenches to pass time.
10. What is the Ode of Remembrance taken from?
- Laurence Binyon's 'For the Fallen'
- Rudyard Kipling's poem
- Wilfred Owen's 'Dulce et Decorum Est'
- John McCrae's 'In Flanders Fields'
The fourth stanza beginning 'They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old' was written in September 1914, just weeks after WWI began. Binyon wrote it sitting on cliffs in north Cornwall.
11. How many ANZAC troops died during the Gallipoli campaign?
- About 25,000
- About 11,500
- About 5,000
- About 50,000
Australia lost 8,709 and New Zealand 2,779 at Gallipoli. Ottoman losses were even higher — estimated at 86,000 dead. Both sides suffered enormously from disease, particularly dysentery.
12. Which famous war poet wrote 'Dulce et Decorum Est' about the horrors of gas warfare?
- Siegfried Sassoon
- Robert Graves
- Wilfred Owen
- Rupert Brooke
Owen was killed on November 4, 1918, exactly one week before the Armistice. His mother received the telegram informing her of his death as church bells rang to celebrate the end of the war.
13. What was the Christmas Truce of 1914?
- A formal peace agreement
- An unofficial ceasefire when soldiers from both sides met in No Man's Land
- A religious ceremony held in the trenches
- A supply delivery on Christmas Day
British and German soldiers exchanged gifts, sang carols, and reportedly played football together. Military commanders were furious and ensured it never happened again on that scale.
14. What was Simpson's famous companion at Gallipoli?
- A dog
- A donkey
- A horse
- A mule
Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick used a donkey named Duffy to carry wounded soldiers from the frontline to the beach for evacuation. He was killed by a sniper on May 19, 1915, just 24 days after landing.
15. What phrase did Atatürk address to the mothers of fallen ANZAC soldiers?
- They rest in peace
- You sent your sons, they became our sons too
- Their sacrifice was not in vain
- Your sons are now our sons
Atatürk's 1934 tribute reads in part: '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.' The words are inscribed at the Gallipoli memorial.