Istanbul– Officials and visitors from Australia, New Zealand and Türkiye gathered in the northwest turkey on Saturday to celebrate the 111th anniversary of battle of gallipoli.
The solemn ceremony began at 5:30 a.m. local time near a beach where the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, or Anzacs, first landed at Gallipoli at dawn on April 25, 1915.
The hour-long event featured mournful hymns, prayers and floral tributes by the participants, who included representatives from many countries around the world.
The Gallipoli campaign, which was part of a British-led effort to defeat the Ottoman Empire, ultimately failed, resulting in thousands of deaths on both sides during the eight-month conflict. Its objective was to secure a naval route from the Mediterranean Sea to Istanbul via the Dardanelles and drive the Ottomans out of the war.
The battle helped form the national identity of Australia and New Zealand, as well as friendship with their former rival, Turkey.
Dame Cindy Kiro, Governor-General of New Zealand, said during the inaugural address, “Out of great suffering can grow understanding. From former enemies can grow friendship. The relationship between Turkey, Australia and New Zealand is built on remembrance, respect and recognition of our shared humanity.”
Turkish Colonel Fatih Cansiz read a tribute by Turkish founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to those killed in 1934: “The heroes who shed their blood and lost their lives… You now lie in the soil of a friendly country. So rest in peace. For us there is no difference between the Johnnys and the Mehmets, where they live together in this country of ours.”
Atatürk first rose to prominence as commander of Turkish forces at Gallipoli, then led the Turkish War of Independence and ultimately established the Turkish Republic.
