Anzac day commemorates the part played by the combined forces of Australia and New Zealand during the Battle of Gallipoli in 1915. It was an attempt to defeat the Turks and distract Germany from the Western Front. It was not well organised or supported - and caused thousands of deaths of soldiers from many Commonwealth countries. The Anzacs attacked one beach on their own (now known as Anzac Cove) but found the Turks much better armed and organised than expected and did not make heavy inroads. After six months the attack was called off as a failure. It is viewed by many that it was the first time that the new nations stood up to fight as equals with Great Britain and created a very strong sense of identity that pervails to this day.