Tours of Gallipoli enable contemporary Australians to witness up close the tremendous efforts of the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who lost their lives fighting one among the world's bloodiest wars. The preservation and commemoration of their efforts are fully view, capturing truth spirit of our fallen ancestors and allowing us to be pleased with what numerous died to attain for us.
Çanakkale War
The Gallipoli Campaign occurred at Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey from 25 April 1915 to 9 January 1916, during war 1. A joint geographic region and French operation was mounted to capture the Ottoman capital and secure a sea route to Russia. The attempt failed, with either side suffering heavy casualties.
What is Anzac?
For Australia and New Zealand, the campaign was the primary major battle undertaken by a joint formation, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), and is usually considered to mark the birth of national consciousness in both of those countries.
The most important destination on any tour is that the Anzac Commemorative Site. The positioning is found at North Beach where, on the morning of 25 April 1915, troops of the first Australian Division came ashore after landing at Anzac Cove. The memorial includes a commemorative focus, with visual representations depicting the story of the Gallipoli campaign.
This site is that the scene of the moving annual dawn service, held annually on the 25 April.
Thousands of pilgrims from round the world roll up the cold pre-dawn to come back together and remember the fallen and therefore the legacy they need left.
Chunuk Bair Cemetery
Chunuk Bair Cemetery is another important destination. The cemetery is found on the ridge running north-east from Brighton Beach. Chunuk Bair was one among the most objectives within the Battle of Sari Bair, fought 6-10 August 1915. The attack was to be distributed by the New Zealand Infantry Brigade. The position was eventually overrun by a Turkish Army Corps.
Chunuk Bair Cemetery was established on the location where the enemy had buried Commonwealth soldiers who were killed within the battle. There are now 632 Commonwealth servicemen buried there. Sadly, only ten are identified. The cemetery also contains the Chunuk Bair Memorial, erected to honour New Zealand soldiers who died on the peninsula, with graves unknown. It contains over 850 names.
Ari Burnu Cemetery is another important site. Established in 1915, there are now 252 Commonwealth servicemen of the primary warfare buried or commemorated during this cemetery.
Forty-two of the burials are unidentified.
Plugge's Plateau was the name given to the Hill above Ari Burnu. Plugge's Plateau Cemetery is on the north-west corner of the Plateau. Plugge's Plateau was captured by the 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade on 25 April and later named for the commander of Auckland Battalion, Colonel A Plugge. The Anzac Headquarters were situated on its western slopes.
The cemetery contains 21 burials, four of which are unidentified. Shrapnel Valley runs from the side of the Lone Pine Plateau to the ocean near Hell Spit. Shrapnel Valley was a vital road from the beach up to the Anzac front and took its name from the heavy shelling it had been given on 26 April 1915. The cemetery was created during the occupation, but some graves were brought in from the valley after the Armistice. There are now 683 Commonwealth servicemen buried or commemorated during this cemetery. Eighty-five of the burials are unidentified but special memorials commemorate 23 casualties known or believed to be buried among them.
Lone Pine is one amongst the foremost significant sites within the area. On 6 August the Allies mounted a significant attack on the Lone Pine area, which involved Australians of several Battalions charging to succeed in the Turkish trenches.
Over five days of fighting the Australians managed to penetrate most of the Turkish trench system. These trenches were the scene of a number of the fiercest fighting of warfare I. The combat was so ferocious that seven Victoria Crosses were awarded to Australians during this small area.
The Nek Cemetery is north of Quinn's Post. The Nek was the situation of the climax of the campaign in August when simultaneous assaults were launched on all three fronts. The cemetery stands on a ridge with Pope's Hill on the south-west and Molane's Gully on the north-west. The cemetery was made after the Armistice. There are now 326 Commonwealth servicemen of the primary war buried or honoured during this cemetery.
Witness up close the tremendous efforts of the Australian and New Zealand soldiers with tours of Gallipoli.
