The First Anzac Day – 13 October 1915

This episode of Forgotten Australia explores the little-known first Anzac Day, held on 13 October 1915 in South Australia—eight months before the official 25 April anniversary. Unlike the solemn, national commemoration we know today, this inaugural event was a vibrant, carnival-like pageant designed to raise funds for wounded soldiers during the ongoing Gallipoli campaign. Organised by a joint committee of trade unions, theatrical managers, and government officials, it featured a massive procession with working displays, clowns, mounted ladies, prehistoric-themed floats, and even a dramatic tram crash engineered for spectacle. The name 'Anzac Day' was coined through a public competition, won by draper Robert Wheeler in a random draw. Despite its festive tone, the event was deeply rooted in patriotic duty, with widespread participation from women, unions, and government leaders. While it raised only £4,000—well below the £10,000 goal—it was celebrated as a success and marked the first national use of the term 'Anzac Day' across Australia. The episode also traces the evolution of commemorative days during WWI, including Violet Day, Australia Day, and Wattle Day, showing how fundraising and public engagement shaped early war memory. Over time, as Gallipoli’s failure became clear and the war dragged on, Anzac Day transformed into a more solemn, religiously and nationally infused observance, eclipsing the 1915 event from official memory. Yet, this first Anzac Day remains a powerful testament to the complex, multifaceted ways Australians responded to war—through joy, solidarity, and sacrifice.