Gallipoli, Turkey Where A WWI Battle Took Place

Gallipoli, Turkey - Where A WWI Battle Took Place

At this date and time this beach appears to be a tranquil. But on February 19, 1915, during WWI, the British and French invaded Turkey at The Dardanelles, in hopes of taking possession of the narrow strait connecting Europe and Asia.

Between the loses at The Dardenelles and the Gallipoli campaign, 400,000 were Australians, 100,000 were British and 60,000 were Turks. We arrived at The Dardanelles the day after a commemorative speech that was given by Prince Charles honoring the allied forces lost during this campaign. We were there the next day. The day the Turks mourned their losses.

We were very moved. So many lost!

There was a movie that came out near the time that I was there starring Russell Crowe, called The Water Diviner. It was about an Australian farmer who lost three sons in this battle. Four years after the war, he goes to Gallipoli to bring his, now deceased, sons, home.

We were told a story, by our Turkish tour guide, that the soldiers were camped out in trenches on both sides of the roadway. During the day they were enemies. At night they would come out, exchange cigarettes and play cards.

We were told a story, by our local guide, that during the battle, a Turkish soldier found a wounded allied soldier
and carried him over to his own troops.

This monument is to that soldier.