ANZAC DAY Acronym:

The ANZAC acronym was first written as A & NZ Army Corps; however , clerks in the corps headquarters soon shortened it to ANZAC as a convenient telegraphic code name for addressing telegram messages.

The word generated many slang terms in the first Australian Imperial Force.”

WH Dowling’s Diggers dialects included.

* ANZAC Button: a nail used in place of a trouser button.

* ANZAC Soup:  Shell-hole water polluted by a corpse.

* ANZAC Stew: an urn of hot water and one bacon rind.

*ANZAC Water: a hard biscuit supplied to the AIF in place of bread.

By the end of the Great War ANZAC was well known throughout the British Empire  and much of the rest of the world.

 

Flags at half mast:

The tradition of lowering flags to half mast as a sign of remembrance is believed to have its origins on the high seas. As a sign of respect or honour for important persons, sailing ships would lower their sails, thus slowing the vessel and allowing for the VIP’s own vessel to come alongside and for him to board if so desired. Lowering of sails was also used to honour VIPs who were reviewing a naval procession from the land. In time only the ship’s flags were lowered in a symbolic gesture. This practice was also adopted on land.