ANZAC or Anzac?

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

Australasian Army Corps would have been, and still would be the truth, so aren't we lucky then Tony.

Most definitely Lynn! If this story is true then Australians owe thanks to the Kiwis for the very word Anzac. Given what that word has come to mean to Australia it's hard to think of a bigger debt of gratitude.

Let's consider the alternative history - as you suggest there's no way you could rally a nation around a clearing of the throat 'Aac', and it's entirely inconceivable that Australians could ever see themselves as 'Australasians' and celebrate 'Australasian Day.' The word 'austral' means south, and while we may consider ourselves part of Asia these days, I doubt we'd take kindly to being referred to as South Asians! Nor I suspect would Kiwis, so you've done yourselves a pretty big favour as well!

When you consider these two possible realities it becomes clear that the naming of this particular Army Corps in 1914 is another example of the power of language, and how world history often turns on tiny events.