This week marks the 100th anniversary of two key events for the 1st AIF in their preparation for war. Firstly, December 3rd marks the day that troops who departed Albany as part of the first convoy disembarked in Alexandria, Egypt. Four and half months of training followed near Cairo, Egypt as well as defence of the Suez Canal as they prepared for the assault on the Dardanelles.
The second key event occurs on December 8 when the term ANZAC is first used to refer collectively to Australian and New Zealand forces. While stationed in Egypt troops from both countries were placed under the command of Lieutenant General William Birdwood and formed into the ANZAC Corp.
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