2026
25 April
Anzac Day
    6.00 Dawn Remembrance Service Rome Commonwealth War Cemetery The Embassies of Australia and New Zealand in Rome will commemorate ANZAC Day with a dawn service ceremony at the Rome War Cemetery, Via Nicola Zabaglia (Piramide), commencing at 6.00 a.m. on Saturday 25 April. All are welcome |
    11.00 |
The Dawn Service
It is often suggested that the Dawn Service observed on Anzac Day has its origins in a military routine still followed by the Australian Army. The half-light of dawn was one of the times favoured for launching an attack. Soldiers in defensive positions were woken in the dark before dawn, so by the time first light crept across the battlefield they were awake, alert, and manning their weapons; this is still known as the “stand-to”.
www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/anzac-day/traditions
2025
New Zealanders and Australians in Rome will commemorate ANZAC Day with a memorial service.
The service will take place at the
ROME WAR CEMETERY - VIA NICOLA ZABAGLIA (PIRAMIDE)
on Friday 25 April at 9.00 a.m
and will be followed by a morning tea on the grounds.
Hosted by New Zealand Embassy in Rome
www.facebook.com/NZEMBASSYROME
fb.me/e/6Iua9si2K
On the 25th of April 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula. These became known as Anzacs and the pride they took in that name continues to this day.
The Anzacs landed on Gallipoli and met fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. Their plan to knock Türkiye out of the war quickly became a stalemate and the campaign dragged on for eight months.
