2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the landing of Allied forces on the shores of Gallipoli.
Australians and New Zealanders played a significant part in this military offensive against the authoritarian and despotic Ottoman Empire, invading its heartland of Turkey.
Despite the bravery and sacrifice of those involved in the Dardanelles campaign, the venture did not result in the capturing of a permanent wartime foothold in the land of Turkey. In large part this was the fault of the British military strategists, who made mistakes which were far-reaching, thus wasting a valuable opportunity which could have resulted in the reclaiming of the land in Europe overrun by the Turks many years before.
Nonetheless, the fighting at Gallipoli in 1915 not only showed the world the bravery of the fighting Australian soldier, but it also brought together Australia’s military forces as a truly national fighting force for the first time, instead of acting as separate colonial armies. Australians back home, in a land which had only joined together in 1901, expressed their pride in their nation’s fighting men.
The events at Gallipoli were a milestone in Australia’s history, becoming a special part of our national iconography, and contributing a significant aspect to our national psychology. Having pride in the Anzacs is a part of who we are as a national community.
On this day, we remember the bravery and sacrifice of our Anzac forebears.
Yes I agree, I think that the leaders of our country and the beautiful speech of the Turks was magic. It’s just a shame we can’t give the Germans the same consideration, I mean the regular German soldier believed in his cause and us ours.
Eddy.