April 25 is Anzac Day.. the day Australians and New Zealanders pay tribute to their soldiers.

April 25 marks the anniversary of the day members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps saw their First major action of World War ONE.

They landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey in 1915.. establishing a tenuous foothold on the steep slopes above the beach.

They were eventually evacuated in the December after a stalemate.

But it's not just those diggers we remember.. but those from the Boar war (before Australian federation when they went off to war as representitives of the colonies fighting with the British forces) -- through to Australian troops on patrol today.

Our latest casualty happened last Friday.. the First Australian soldier killed in Iraq.  He was fatally wounded by his own pistol while cleaning it.

As well as Iraq, Australian troops are currently involved in operations (mainly peace-keeping and regional assistance programs) in Afghanistan, Timor,  Solomon Islands,  Sinai, Sudan and in the Southern Ocean.  

(photo:  The catafalque party presents arms during Anzac Day rehearsals at Camp Victory, Baghdad. From Australian Defence Force)