Eighty-nine years ago, tens of thousands of Allied and Turkish troops perished in a military mis-adventure that became a turning-point in the maturing of both Australia and New Zealand’s national identities.
Nearly 6 years ago I visited the Gallipoli peninsula, where I took these pictures. It is an incredibly solemn place.
Memorial to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force at Chunuk Bair and the Atatürk memorial:
The Ari Burnu memorial:
The text of the memorial reads:
“Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives… You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to use where they lie side by side here in this country of ours… You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.” Atatürk, 1934