1998 Memorial Statues - Joint Issue with Turkey

The Gallipoli Campaign.
          On 25 April 1915, British, French, Australian and New Zealand forces launched a major sea and land offensive at the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula in the Canakkale province of Turkey. The aim was to open up a new theatre of war as an alternative to the stalemate in France, relieve pressure on Russian forces by the Turks in the Caucasus and provide a direct link with Russia through the Black Sea by gaining control of Istanbul, the Dardanelles and Bosporus Straits.
          However, the Allied commanders who planned the offensive, First Munitions Minister David Lloyd George, First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, General Kitchener and Admiral Cardin, dramatically underestimated the resolve of the Turks. Dug into the hills overlooking the beachheads, the defenders put up stiff resistance, inspired by the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (later, founder of the Turkish Republic and its first President).
          The Gallipoli campaign lasted 9 months and involved more than a million men. By the time it was officially abandoned on 8 January 1916, both sides had suffered horrendous casualties. New Zealand and Australian troops particularly had taken a real pounding having been landed on the wrong beach surrounded by steep hills, an almost impossible situation. Over 33,000 allied and 86,000 Turkish troops died in the campaign. 
          New Zealand and Turkey have since created a relationship of goodwill and, each year many New Zealanders travel to Turkey to remember those who died on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

2016 - RSA: 100 Years of Service

2016 marks 100 years since the formation of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association (RSA). Since it was founded, the RSA has been an integral part of New Zealand communities and NZ Post paid tribute to the important role it plays with this special stamp issue.

This commemorative issue consists of six gummed stamps that portray the RSA’s identity and history. The designs incorporate the new RSA ‘heart’ logo, which reflects the RSA’s ambition to be at the heart of New Zealand’s communities.

Simpson and his Donkey.

This post was inspired by one of the stamps from 2015 - The Spirit of ANZAC - 1915.

         On the 25th of April, 1915, Australian and New Zealand troops saw action for the first time in World War I.  The aim of the campaign was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul) and eliminated both of Germany's Balkan allies (Turkey and Bulgaria) from the war. 

         This poorly planned landing went wrong from the start. Instead of landing on the chosen beach the Australian and New Zealanders landed further north on a narrow beach surrounded by steep hills. For six months they held this beach, making little headway inland against fierce resistance from the Turkish soldiers. Finally the decision had to be made to pull the troops back off the beach.

1936 - 1965 - Early ANZAC Issues.

          On the 25th of April, 1915, New Zealand troops saw action for the first time in World War I.  The aim of the campaign was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul).  The goal was to eliminated both of Germany's Balkan allies (Turkey and Bulgaria) from the war, and relieved the Russians from the heavy German pressure they were facing. 
         The poorly planned landing went wrong from the start. Instead of landing on the chosen beach the Australian and New Zealanders landed further north on a narrow beach surrounded by steep hills. For six months they held this beach, making little headway inland against fierce resistance from the Turkish soldiers. Finally the decision had to be made to pull the troops back off the beach.
        This heroic but disastrous campaign left 2,721 New Zealanders dead and 4,752 wounded which was a big hit for such a small country. Over the years much criticism has been made of the British leaders who planned this attack. It would eventually lead to the New Zealand and Australian military becoming more independent from Britain.  
        The campaign became a symbol of New Zealand (and Australia's) war losses. The 25th of April is observed in both countries as ANZAC Day - to remember those countries men and women whose lives were lost in war. 'ANZAC' is an acronym made up of the initials of the 'Australian and New Zealand Army Corps'.
 

2015 ANZAC Joint Issue.

         New Zealand Post partnered with Australia Post to mark 100 years since the Gallipoli campaign with a joint stamp and coin issue commemorates the relationship New Zealand and Australia share under the banner of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC).  100 hundred years later the two countries join together to remember the New Zealand and Australian men who fought together on the beach and on the hills at Gallipoli.

                       

80c - ANZAC Joint Issue.                            $2 - ANZAC Joint Issue. 

(New Zealand)                                               (New Zealand)

2014 ANZAC WWII Poster Art.

         2014 is the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II. – a war in which nearly 200,000 men and 10,000 women served for New Zealand both overseas and at home and nearly one in every 150 New Zealanders lost their lives. It was a big effort for such a small country, that like of which has never been seen before or since.
         World War II was a war that engulfed the globe, with fighting seen in many countries and parts of the would. The conflict was fought on land, in the air and across the oceans. 50 million people lost their lives, millions more were effected by losing loved ones and with many more becoming displaced and homeless as the fighting raged across their towns, cities and countries.
        The 2014 Anzac stamps depict six war effort WWII posters produced during the war.  Between 1939 and 1945 New Zealand produced hundreds of thousands of posters, window stickers and cards in support of its involvement in World War II. The purpose of these posters was to raise funds, recruit New Zealanders and give advice and information about the war. They helped to create a war-like atmosphere at home and keep people focused on the war effort.

2010 ANZAC III - Remembrance

        The theme of the 2010 ANZAC issue took on a more modern theme by looking at some of the activities of the modern ANZAC Day to see how New Zealanders today remember those who gave their lives for our freedom. This was done by looking at six ANZAC Day scenes from 1932 to 2010. Especially featured are services which have taken place overseas. 

                                         

2009 ANZAC II - Comrades in Arms.

        
        2009 saw the issue of the second yearly ANZAC issue by New Zealand Post. This issue showed scenes from each of the major wars New Zealand has been involved in. The theme of Comrades in Arms was shown in pictures of men facing and hardships and dangers of war together.

        The first stamp shows a typical ANZAC Day scene where soldiers carry the coffin of the Unknown Warrior so those who died, but whose bodies were never recovered or identified, are remembered. To many whose loved one was never found this is one of the few links they have.

       The format followed the 2008 issue by showing a sepia photo with the silver writing and red poppy. The words "Lest we forget" were also included too. I actually like this design better because the words "Lest we forget" were very hard to see in the 2009 ANZAC issue.

2008 ANZAC I Stories of Nationhood.

         In 2008 New Zealand began what has become a regular issue on a military theme for ANZAC Day. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, the combined army group which had hastily be put together by the two countries and sent to join the fighting in World War I. The first action was the ill-fated landing at what is now known as ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli.

        Both countries now remember this landing, in which many brave young men lost their lives, by putting aside the 25th of April each year to hold special parades and services. The day is also remembered by the wearing of a red poppy, as can be scene on each the stamps below.

        There have been other military sets issued before this one for ANZAC and for special military anniversaries but this issue is different in that it was to become the start of a yearly issue for ANZAC. Over the years younger people, people who had been born many years after the two world wars, have begun attending these services in ever greater numbers. So as the ranks of a veterans have thinned with the now old men passing away the crowds of young people have increased. New Zealand Post now recognises this with a regular ANZAC issue.

        The stamps are a simple, yet effective design, with a background picture in sepia, a red poppy and writing and the silver fern in silver. Each stamp also carries that famous slogan of ANZAC Day "Lest we forget."     

(To see my entire Military / Anzac collection, click on either link in the page bar above.)

2013 ANZAC

New Zealanders Serving Abroad.

         For a number of years New Zealand has been issuing stamps to mark the annual ANZAC Day events where as a country we remember those brave men and women who have lost their lives serving in the NZ Military overseas. There are many services that take place that day including one in the small community in which I live. These services often are at dawn, known as a dawn service or dawn parade, or later in the morning at 10am. In the centre of Auckland they hold a large dawn service at the Auckland Memorial Museum which attracts thousands of people. What is surprising is that over the years as the old soldier have past on, their ranks declining, the numbers of younger people attending these services has steadily grown.   
         It is well known that New Zealand played a role in World War I and World War II but what is lesser know is the long list of other places where New Zealand men and women have served. New Zealand is proud of its commitment to peacekeeping and assisting other nations in trouble and our military plays an important role in this.
         2013 marks the 60 anniversary of the Korean War. To mark this event the 2013 ANZAC issue features six of the many places New Zealand Defence Forces have been deployed to.