25 April marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian New Zealand forces in the first World War at Gallipoli in 1915.

The first remembrance Anzac Day march of Gallipoli was held in Melbourne exactly a year after the first landing, when about 380 Anzacs marched from near Princes Bridge, to a service at St Paul’s Cathedral. The following year, 400 Anzacs made the same march, and in 1918, Melbourne saw its big and emotional procession, with more than 6,000 men marched from Alexander Avenue to the corner of Collins and William street’s, where they dispersed.

There was no city march in 1919 or 1920. The march again was held in 1921 and there was a gap of three years before the march was resumed in 1925, and they have  been held annually ever since, apart from 1942 when it was cancelled because of state of the war, and threats from Japanese forces.

The three elements of Melbourne’s ANZAC DAY is the dawn service at the Shrine of Remembrance, the parade of Veterans down Swanson Street, and the public service, conducted at the Shrines forecourt at the internal flame.

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*The record marching number of veterans of 44,600 in the 1946 Melbourne ANZAC parade has never been equaled.
*In the First World War, 416,000 Australians enlisted for the war, 330,000 served in the war, 61,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded.
*From Victoria 114,000 enlisted, 89,000 served in the war, with 19,000 never to return home (one in five Victorians killed in the war).
*For the Australians, the landing at Gallipoli on the 25 April 1915 was a disaster, with over 2,000 killed in 24 hours, and hundred’s wounded.
*The Australian casualties at Gallipoli from 25 April till end of December 1915, were 8,200 killed and 26,000 wounded.
*The correct age for Australians to enlist was 18, but many young men as young as 16, 17, lied their age and enlisted.
*The youngest Australian soldier to enlist and die in the First World War, was James Martin from New South Wales, age 14 years, he landed at Gallipoli at the age of 14  and three months.  James died through sickness on a medical ship at the age 14 and 9 month’s. At the time of his death only his best mate and parents, new he was only 14.
*We also remember the Greek Australians in the Australian Imperial Forces that served in the war, from the 80 that served 10 died and 12 wounded in action.

READ MORE: A different kind of Anzac Day celebrated by thousands this morning

“We might not be marching this year, but we will remember all the ANZACS in spirit and in our hearts, of their service and sacrifice,” Hellenic RSL President Steven Kyritsis OAM said.