Anzac Day at Commonwealth Bank

What is Anzac Day?

Anzac Day gets its name from the Australian New Zealand Army Corps, the combined force of soldiers which landed at Gallipoli in 1915 during World War One (WW1) with the aim of capturing the Turkish peninsula and eventually forcing Turkey out of the conflict.

The operation failed but the heroic efforts of the Corps gave rise to the Anzac legend – encompassing bravery, courage, mateship and sacrifice - and helped forge the standing of the recently-created nation of Australia (federation occurred in 1901) within the British Empire at the time.

Australians subsequently went on to serve in the other major theatres of conflict in WW1 including and especially on the Western Front in France.

Originally commemorated on 25 April 1916 to mark the first anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, Anzac Day has, following the First World War, been extended to honour those Australians and New Zealanders who served in World War Two, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. These are among the many different campaigns and operations to which both nations have contributed forces over the last 110 years.

How does Australia commemorate Anzac Day?

Commemoration and memorial services are held nationally, regionally and locally with significant services at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, the capital cities of the states and territories and across towns and villages throughout Australia. Local councils publish details online about where you can participate in these services.

The day begins with the Dawn Service, around 5.30am at most memorials, which marks the moment when the Anzacs came ashore at Gallipoli. Dignitaries, veterans and service organisations lay wreaths of remembrance and a bugler will play The Last Post and Reveille as part of a period of silence and reflection, lasting one or two minutes depending on the specific commemoration.

Other services are held during the day and in many cities and towns there are marches attended by members of the armed forces, veterans and family members of those service people no longer with us.

As Anzac Day is a national public holiday, all Australians have an opportunity to participate in their own way in paying tribute to our service people and the fallen.

Anzac Day commemorations at CBA

Staff at CBA have a special connection to Anzac Day given that the bank opened its doors in 1912, just two years before the outbreak of World War One and three before the Gallipoli campaign.

As an organisation founded and owned by the relatively new Australian nation – the former colonies had come together in federation in 1901 – the Commonwealth Bank was to play an increasingly important role in the country’s finances, particularly in wartime by financing the war effort and the subsequent peace.

From CBA’s comparatively small staff of 228 in 1914 which by the war’s end had swelled to around 1,200, 241 joined up to fight. Twenty-six of them never returned.

In WW2, about 2,900 CommBank staffers went to war with 307 killed in action, dying as a result of their wounds or as prisoners of war.

Since then, our people have served in the Korean, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts while also participating in many peace-keeping operations abroad including East Timor, the Solomon Islands, the Middle East and Africa.

As well as enlisted service people, many past and current CBA staff are also members of the reserve forces who give up their time at and outside of work as volunteers to support the regulars in the Royal Australian Air Force, the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Navy.

CBA will honour those of our contingent over the bank’s 113-year history who have served and those who continue to do so with a service of commemoration at our Axle Building in South Everleigh, Sydney, NSW, on Thursday 24 April at 10am as Anzac Day on the Friday is a public holiday. Members of CBA’s Veterans Council will be in attendance.

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