Three of my uncles fought in the European theatre as part of the Anzacs in WW1 - places like the Somme and Passchendale, which was NZ's biggest military disaster. My uncles were grandchildren of Foresters rather than Foresters themselves. When they were on leave in Britain they tried to locate relatives in the Forest, but despite the fact the family only left in the 1860's, they couldn't find any.

Anzac Day in NZ is observed by more people than in previous years - attendances at Dawn Services and the regular morning citizens' services are increasing every year. Children and young people particularly are attending in amazing numbers. All shops and pubs are shut for the morning in NZ - it is not long ago since shops and pubs were shut all day. A visit to Gallipoli on Anzac Day is now a necessary part of a young Kiwi's overseas experience - both of my daughters have been there for the dawn service at the NZ and Australian memorials.

Anzac Day - 25 April - was the day the Anzacs landed in Gallipoli, and it is often thought of as the day NZ came of age - when NZ started to feel like an independent nation, and the scales fell off our eyes regarding politicians like Churchill and the British generals who ran the show.

Re J Hopkins comments on it being a celebration in Australia. The day starts off with a sombre dawn service and then there is a commemorative march through all towns and cities where veterans from all wars, familes or relatives proudly march. It is great to see grandchildren marching with their grandfathers or their fathers and as the case may be the children proudly wearing their grandfather's medals. There is a growing respect amongst the children of the price paid by the men who fought for our countries and to aid other countries. With the current situation in Afghanistan it has probably brought it home to a lot more people.
After the march, the various military units, regiments etc hold their own re-unions and reminisce on the good and bad times they shared during the conflicts. There is usually a sporting event in the afternoon, eg. rugby league which is known as the Anzac Day game, with a minute silence observed before the game by the players and spectators prior to the kick off.
In Brisbane this year at the dawn service there were so many people turn up at the Shrine of Remembrance, Anzac Square that they had to redirect a lot of people to the City Hall square and show the ceremony on a large screen.
My great uncle from Lydbrook lost his life in WWl.