Tuesday, March 8, 2011

How The Gallipoli Campaign Is Remembered

By Rob Atherton


ANZAC soldiers who lost their lives while battling in the world's fiercest wars were laid to rest at Gallipoli. You can find tours of the region that will give you an insight at the initiatives in the memory and preservation of those fallen heroes who make both Australians and New Zealanders proud.

Beginning 25th April 1915 to 9th January 1916, in World War 1, the Gallipoli campaign was launched in the Turkish Peninsula of Gallipoli. In an effort to maintain a sea route to Russia and take the Ottoman capital, the British joined forces with the French. The campaign was a failure with each side enduring heavy deaths and injuries.

This campaign led to the very first major battle ever undertaken by a combined force of Australians and New Zealand Army Corps also known as ANZAC. Both nations consider this campaign as the birth of national consciousness. The Anzac Commemorative Site is the most important destination and tour sites.

In the early hours of 25th April 1915, the 1st Australian Division arrived at Anzac Cove on the shoreline positioned on the North Beach. It was here where Albert Jacka had become the first Aussie to be awarded the Victoria Cross. Jacka fought off an assault on the part of trench he was in from 7 Turkish solders. Having a visual portrayal showing the campaign story, this memorial site retains a commemorative focus. A moving annual dawn service is held at this site every year on the anniversary. Usually in the chilly pre-dawn, thousands of people gather here to commemorate the legacy left behind by the fallen heroes of World War 1.

An additional crucial location is the Chunuk Bair Cemetery positioned on the ridge running on the north eastern side of the Brighton Beach. Among the main objectives of the Chunuk Bair is the Sari Bair Battle of August 6th to 10th, 1915. The New Zealand Infantry Brigade were involved in this assault but the Turkish Army Corps in the end overran them.

Commonwealth soldiers who perished in battle were laid to rest at the Chunuk Bair Cemetery by the enemy. In total 632 Commonwealth soldiers are buried here along with approximately 850 New Zealand troopers who died on the peninsula. The man behind the Gallipoli campaign was none other than Winston Churchill. The combined Allied casualties were over 200,000 and paradoxically, the most successful aspect of the campaign was the withdrawal.




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