ÇANAKKALE – Hürriyet Daily News
Ninety-five years after historic battles that helped Turkey forge its independence, Australians, New Zealanders and Turks continue the respectful friendship that was born out of a bloody fight for control of the Dardanelles. With the commemorations, memories are relived as veterans and relatives pay homage to their fallen brothers in arms
Although they fought each other to the brink of death nearly a century ago, Australians, New Zealanders and Turks came together again in friendship Sunday to mark the 95th anniversary of the beginning of the Gallipoli campaign.
The commemoration, known as Anzac Day in the West in honor of Australian and New Zealander Army Corps soldiers, is held each year in the northwestern province of Çanakkale. The battles are known in Turkey as the War of Çanakkale.
Despite their original hostilities, both sides have since developed a profound respect for each other.
“The feeling of Australians toward the Turks is that they were wonderful people and I did not like being at war with the Turks,” Australian visitor Hilton R. Grugeon told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review on Sunday, adding that he was impressed with the Turkish bravery and the way the country was dedicated to protecting and preserving itself.
“My father fought here in the Gallipoli campaign in 1915,” said retired New Zealand army officer Maj. Ted Brock said. “It was very important for us to be here. My older brother and I, we are both ex-military servicemen, are here as our government sponsored us to come and help commemorate the Gallipoli campaign”.
The ground offensive began April 25, 1915, but by January 1916, Ottoman Turkish forces had heroically repelled advances primarily from the Anzac soldiers. The victory has since become known as a shining moment in Turkish history but was also seminal in solidifying a distinct identity for both Australia and New Zealand.
The campaign also marked the rise to prominence of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk; then a young officer, Atatürk would later win the country’s War of Independence and found the modern Turkish Republic.
Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce, who attended the ceremonies in Çanakkale over the weekend, referred to Atatürk’s famous words in her address honoring the shared experience and shared history of both Turkey and her country.
“Our heroes rest in peace with yours. Thank you. Our mothers no longer weep. Thank you. Your sons have become our sons. Thank you,” said Bryce, expressing the Australian gratitude after repeating every word said by Atatürk in the wake of the war.
New Zealand’s prime minister, John Key, as well as the British chief of the Defense Staff, Sir Jock Stirrup, were also present during the weekend’s ceremonies.
They laid wreathes at the monument Saturday and, later in the day, Turkish First Army Cmdr. Gen. Hasan Iğsız and high-level guests planted trees at the Peace Forest to commemorate the fallen soldiers.
Meanwhile, the Turkish military held a march Sunday while Australians and New Zealanders held their traditional dawn ritual at the battle gravesites.
He described the war as an event that made Australia a nation.
Describing the importance of the battle for Australians, Grugeon said: “It was the first time that Australia as a nation had come together and, of course, with New Zealand … Up until then, Australia had never been at war as a country. When they got to Europe of course, they fought in much closer proximity with the British and the allies, but here the Anzacs were together in this little cove”.
The British later assumed positions further down the peninsula, but Australian and New Zealander forces did the bulk of the fighting against the Turkish army at Çanakkale.
“Young men from Australia came here because the call was for them to go and defend the mother country, which was England. They came up here and for the first time as a nation Australia stood to fight forces from another country,” he said.
He said the Gallipoli campaign was part of Australian education.
“This is a part of every Australian child’s education and we have grown up with it and their grandchildren still grow up with it,” Grugeon said. “It ended in defeat but Australians came away with great respect for the Turkish people. For us Turkey is still very special”.
Military gives 'secularism' message
Turkey’s 1st Army commander, Gen. Hasan Iğsız, made a strong emphasis on the military’s resolve to keep alive the secular Republic.
“We have the determination to keep alive forever the secular and democratic Turkish Republic that you entrusted to us by sacrificing your lives for the sake of esteemed ideals,” wrote Iğsız in the guest book during the state ceremony Sunday at the Turkish memorial.
Hürriyet Daily News
