Anzac Day was commemorated in Australia and New Zealand with ceremonies honoring fallen soldiers, while some services faced disruptions from hecklers.

Thousands of people across Australia and New Zealand gathered on Friday to commemorate Anzac Day, a national day of remembrance that honors military service members who lost their lives in war.

Anzac stands for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

The origins of Anzac Day date back to the two nations’ failed military campaign to seize control of the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey in 1915 during World War I. The campaign resulted in the loss of approximately 130,000 lives.

While initially established to remember those who fought at Gallipoli, Anzac Day has evolved to honor all Australian and New Zealand military personnel who have served in wars and conflicts throughout history.

In Sydney, around 7,500 individuals gathered for a dawn service before the traditional annual march of military veterans, according to public broadcaster ABC. Similar commemorative services were held in other major cities including Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Hobart.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated, “It is now a century and a decade since the first Anzacs climbed into their boats and rowed into history. The years come and go, and still we come together to honor them and all who have followed.”

In New Zealand, a major Anzac Day service was held in Wellington. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described the experience of walking in the footsteps of the ANZACs as deeply humbling and moving. He spent the day in Turkey, visiting the battlefields and cemeteries where about 2,800 New Zealand soldiers were killed.

Britain’s King Charles III also paid tribute to the soldiers who died during the Gallipoli campaign.

In Melbourne, the ceremony began with a Welcome to Country led by local Indigenous man Mark Brown, acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land. The service was interrupted by hecklers shouting phrases such as “This is our country” and objecting to references made about Indigenous soldiers.

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh condemned the interruptions, stating that the soldiers being commemorated fought against hateful ideologies, and described the disruption as completely disrespectful. He added that the individual responsible was a known neo-Nazi.

Police directed a 26-year-old man to leave the service, and he was later questioned. A similar disruption was reported during a service in Perth.