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.
leader of the Turks at Gallipoli, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
The sun is beating down as a light breeze flows. The coastline is surrounded by rolling hills, dotted with trees, and patches of grass with tombstones that now mark the graves of many soldiers who once fought on these same lands.
These are the sacred lands for Australian, New Zealand and Turkish people.
This was Gelibolu (Gallipoli).
As we mark the anniversary of 100 years since the ANZAC landing, I reflect on my experience of ANZAC day in Turkey.
It was an experience I had longed for since I was a small girl. I always wanted to pay my respects to the men and women who helped shape our country, and fought for the freedom of people they had never met.
I remember learning of Gallipoli and the Battle of Lone Pine, and thanks to one of my favourite school teachers, I wanted to venture to this solemn place. I dreamed of staying up all night under the stars and experiencing the beauty and harshness of the cove that shaped a newly formed nation. Mostly, I felt an urge within me to pay my respects at the ANZAC dawn service.
It is hard to believe how such a beautiful coastline was once a horrific battle field that cost 3 countries almost a generation of men.
As everyone else around me went to bed, I remember I didn’t sleep. I stayed up and watched hours of videos and historical documentaries, and listened to poems about the ANZACs and Gallipoli. I recall the sun rose across the hills and the service began.
I still to this day struggle to describe that moment. It sent chills up my spine and unexpected emotions run through you like you would have never expected.
No words or emotion can express that feeling. That feeling of the true horrors of the event are thrust upon you. It is truly a special dawn service.
Thousands of people remain silent, you can hear a pin drop and you know that everyone is overwhelmed with a different emotion: pride, sadness, anger, peace…
Whatever the emotion is, the experience is individual.
Proceeding the second service at Lone Pine for Australians, there was over 10,000 casualties at the battle of Lone Pine from the 6th August to 10th August 1915. 10,000 lives lost in just 4 days.
Lone Pine had this eeriness like nothing else I’ve felt before, or after. You have this unshakable sensation that the men that lost their lives during the battles were still wandering the lands. Searching. Wanting to go home.
Lone Pine still has over 400 unidentified graves.
I sat, yet again in silence, as I could not find words or emotions to express the feeling running through me. As an Australian, I was proud of our nation’s ancestors, and I was saddened as we had also suffered such a horrific loss on these shores, along with so many other countries through both Wars.
It reminds you why we can never let this happen again.
No matter your experience at Gallipoli, whether it be an ANZAC service or a visit to the scared area, I have never heard of anyone not coming away speechless.
It was here as a nation we fought our first fight together, we lost our innocence, we lost our boys but we came out strong; we found mateship.
As this ANZAC day closes, take the time to reflect how lucky we are.
We have the right to freedom, the right to be unique and we are a country built on mateship, multiculturalism and a group of aussie battlers — we fight to survive, not to harm.
If you have ever wanted to attend a ANZAC service at Gallipoli, DO IT as it is an experience you will never forget and always reflect back on with great strength and patriotism. When I look back, I can always feel a smile spread across my face.
It was one of the greatest experiences of my life.
To attend an ANZAC service you must be a part of a tour. There are many different tours available, and I would highly suggest about an 8 - 10 day tour of Turkey and get to know Australia’s connection with the beauty of the amazing country.
Wishing a wonderfully happy birthday to my beautiful co-creator! I’ve watched you grow from a girl into a strong, loving, fearless & daring woman. My oldest friend and transpacific lover, have a most excellent day and keep sharing your wacky insight and hilarious stories with the world. Love from Melbourne ! 🎈🎁🎂
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