Lieutenant General Sir William Birdwood, the commander of the Anzac Corps, swimming in the nude at Anzac Cove. Birdwood’s headquarters were in Anzac Gully directly in the hills behind Anzac Cove and ‘Birdie’ regularly went for a swim amongst the other soldiers. This photo appeared in the Australian press and led to an increase in Birdwood’s parcel mail from that country. The story goes that when he excitedly opened these parcels anticipating perhaps a cake or chocolates instead they contained bathing trunks from shocked readers! [AWM G00401, more online]

Read more on Birdwood in the April issue of The Southern Yarn.

When you think of all things Anzac, we predict that you immediately think of:

1. The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, the Down Under presence in World War One
2. Our upcoming centenary celebration on April 25th of the landing at Gallipoli back in 1915.
3. and of course… ANAZAC BISCUITS!

We have placed an order with Winnipeg’s High Tea Bakery to whip up a big batch of classic baked goods for our event on April 25th. These will include Lamingtons, slices, pound cake, meringue, and of course Anzac Biscuits!

We know these tasty biscuits as a staple of Down Under childhood. They are basic, but their combination of rolled oats, flour, coconut, sugar, butter and golden syrup make for a delicious snack.  If you want to read up on the history of the Anzac Biscuit, start with good old Wikipedia’s entry on the topic.

The Australian War Memorial features some good and ‘official’ recipes to try, but this one (with coconut) is perhaps the one that might emulate the one you know best:

Anzac biscuits

Ingredients:

• 1 cup each of rolled oats, sugar and coconut
• 1 tablespoon syrup
• 3/4 cup flour
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (dissolved in 2 tablespoons boiling water)

Method

1. Melt butter.
2. Add syrup to dissolved soda and water. Combine with melted butter.
3. Mix dry ingredients and stir in liquid.
4. Place small balls on ot buttered tray and bake in moderate oven.
5. Lift out carefully with a knife as they are soft till cold.

Did you know that the original staple issued to soldiers was more of a hard-tack, basic item known as Anzac tiles or Anzac wafers? We can count ourselves lucky that the tastier, modernized versions are the go these days…