Ceremonies are held near the former World War I battlefields on Turkey’s Gallipoli Peninsula, as well as in other areas, where attendees observe a minute of silence in remembrance. The services include wreath-laying tributes and the singing of national anthems from Turkey, Australia, and New Zealand.

These annual ceremonies mark the first landings of troops from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) at Gallipoli at dawn on April 25, 1915.

Where is Gallipoli? What happened there?

Gallipoli is a narrow peninsula of land in modern-day Turkey.

When Britain went to war in 1914, Australia went to war to support Britain as an ally.

In 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers were part of the effort to seize the Gallipoli Peninsula from the Ottoman Empire (Turkey). The aim was to move across the land and eventually capture Constantinople (now Istanbul), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, which was an ally of Germany.

The Australian and New Zealand soldiers first landed on the beaches of Gallipoli at dawn on April 25, 1915, meeting strong resistance from the Ottoman Turkish soldiers. The fighting dragged on for eight months before the allies were evacuated from the peninsula.

Soldiers of all nationalities involved in the fighting were killed at Gallipoli, including more than 8000 Australians.

A moving tribute to the Anzacs killed at Gallipoli is often attributed to Atatürk in 1934:

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 us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours … You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway 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.

Sources: Kids News/The Independent

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The occasion is honoured with a traditional ceremony at the Martyrs’ Monument, which stands over the Dardanelles Strait—a lasting symbol of Ottoman resilience against the Allied forces.

This day honours Türkiye’s successful defence against Allied battleships attempting to seize control of the strait, bombarding Turkish forts along both its Asian and European shores in Çanakkale.

It was a crucial moment in the formation of the Republic of Türkiye, and each year, the nation pauses to remember the extraordinary bravery and dedication of the soldiers who fought for Türkiye’s freedom in 1915.

A new leader

The Gallipoli campaign not only stirred a strong sense of Turkish nationalism but also brought forth a new leader, Mustafa Kemal.

At the time, Mustafa Kemal was a lieutenant colonel in the Ottoman army. When the ANZACs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) landed on the Sari Bair range at midnight on 25 April, the Turkish forces were unprepared for the attack.

As commander of the 19th Division, Mustafa Kemal received a late-night order from his superiors to deploy a battalion against the advancing ANZAC forces at 6:30 am. However, by that time, the ANZACs had already begun scaling the narrow hillside of Chunuk Bair, a critical strategic point for the Allies. Military experts suggest that had they secured Chunuk Bair, the Allies would have gained a decisive advantage in the Gallipoli campaign.

Yet, Mustafa Kemal’s tactical brilliance made it difficult for the Allied forces to gain ground. Beyond directing his battalion, he personally confronted the enemy lines—a bold decision that not only defined his military career but also played a pivotal role in shaping the future of modern Türkiye.

Sources: Daily Sabah/TRT World

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Today, ferry services link Çanakkale with Kilitbahir and Eceabat on the other side making it the most convenient base for tours of the Gallipoli battlefields across the straits.

The town has an attractive harbour, a naval museum and a colossal wooden horse that stands on the town’s waterfront.

Çanakkale means ‘pottery castle’ and the town was once a centre for the production of high-quality kaolin for a flourishing ceramics industry.

Source: DK Eyewitness Travel Turkey

Mick and Trudie paid a visit to have a look at what the city of Çanakkale has to offer, including the popular streets, museums, ferry boats, the worlds longest bridge, the most visited war memorials, including ANZAC cove, the town of Gallipoli and the famous ruins of Troy.

Let’s take a look with them …

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