Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. The ANZACs had set out to conquer Gallipoli Peninsula and then capture Istanbul, thus allowing them access to the Black Sea. What was supposed to be an easy attack became a stale-mate and the two groups (Turks and Anzacs) fought for months before the Anzacs eventually evacuated. The death tolls were horrific. Over 8000 Australians and 2700 New Zealanders were killed. Over 86ooo Turks were killed.
Yet one of the amazing stories about this battle is how the opposing troops became friends of sorts while not engaged in battle. There are stories of them throwing tins of food across the field to each other. One story is about a wounded Anzac who none of his mates went to retrieve for fear of their own lives. During a cease-fire, a Turkish soldier got up, crossed the field, brought this man to his side's trench, then returned to the Turkish side to continue the war.
They fought side by side, and they died side by side. Now they remember, side by side, at dawn on the 25th of April every year.
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We got on the bus at 7 pm Friday night and arrived at Gallipoli at 2:30 am. We had to walk 600m to where the ceremony would take place at 5:30 am.
Many people had been there for hours (we were vehicle 219, if that gives you a hint) and there were sections of grass where you could spread out in a sleeping bag to wait for dawn. It was overwhelming the number of people, and everyone speaking english! Every little thing I heard was intriguing. What's that about a pant leg? You got your sleeping bag wet? He said what? It makes imagining coming home a little more amusing. Unfortunately, you all don't have nearly as amazing accents.We got on the bus at 7 pm Friday night and arrived at Gallipoli at 2:30 am. We had to walk 600m to where the ceremony would take place at 5:30 am.
The ceremony included a call to commemoration, a quote from Ataturk*, psalm 23 (which we were all invited to sing along to... led to a lot of mumbling since no one seemed to know the tune (Amazing Grace did a little better)), a prayer, a poem, wreath laying, and two minutes of silence.
After the ceremony (which took place as the sun rose), we walked back to our tour bus to start the lovely 5 hour drive back home. We slept.
Love,
A Very Tired Maeghan
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*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 where they lie side by side here in this country of ours… You the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. Having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.
—Atatürk 1934
3 comments:
What an interesting commemeration and touching quote. Certainly a piece of history of which I was unaware.
Dang it, how come we always have exactly the same photos? Remind me just to steal yours when I blog this.
Yay I learned something!
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