Day 4 (Thursday)
Today was another remarkable day spent exploring battlegrounds, monuments and cemeteries on the southern tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula. After an early start and another transcontinental ferry ride in brilliant sunshine, our Turkish guide Rabia explained that all the Turkish flags in the streets were not for us, but were to celebrate the anniversary of their republic. Today happens to be a national Youth Day (and that explains the hundreds of kids who were on the ferry with us).
Soon after, we arrived at the impressive Turkish Matyr’s Memorial overlooking Morto Bay. This 42m monument could be seen from our resort across the water when it is lit up with a red light every night. This was a place for us pay respect to the many Turkish soldiers who lost their lives in WW1. While looking at the massive monument we heard a splitting roar and a Turkish Air Force jet raced overhead and did some Top Gun type moves so close to us we felt we could almost reach out and touch it. 20 minutes later the air show ended with all 6 jets flying upside down along the water in front of us with red and white smoke streaming behind them. The air force was putting on the display for all the Turkish kids attending the monument and we just happened to fluke being there.
The main theme for the rest of the day was to understand the contribution of the English and French armies. The next part of the day was spent exploring a lesser-known, but no less important, chapter of the Gallipoli story; the battlefield at Cape Helles on the southern tip of the peninsula. British and French troops landed on the beaches at Helles at the same time the Australians came ashore at ANZAC Cove. More than 30,000 of them were killed in nine months of fighting, as they desperately tried to advance northwards and link up with the ANZACs. Everyone visited the cemeteries where many of them still lie, as well as the beaches where they were mown down as they came ashore. There were many English and Irish soldiers here to pay their respects. A special moment ensued on the shore of that very beach, where Alex was lucky enough to find a message in a bottle that wished (in Turkish) for good health and good fortune.
Our final stop before lunch was a visit to the battlefields of Krithia to discover the ANZAC’s forgotten battle at Gallipoli, which took place in attempt to aid the British in the Battle of Krithia. Hundreds of Australians and New Zealanders were killed here during a murderous advance in May 1915, yet today the battle is virtually unknown. Here we saw a 95 year old oak tree planted by an English woman after the war in memory of her lost son. Located on these grounds today is a vast cemetery which we were all able to explore. Inscribed at the centre of all Australian wartime cemeteries and memorials is the message “their name shall liveth for evermore”.
Lunch was again in Alcitepe (previously called Krithia). We were supposed to go to Suvla Bay at the top of the peninsula but it was locked off for security reasons. As rainclouds threatened to open up on us, we visited the brand new and completely interactive Kabatepe War Museum. Everyone loved the opportunity to learn about the Turkish perspective of the campaign through a 3D interactive presentation that looked like it came out of Mr Ozmen’s senior multimedia classes. Eleven rooms contained different scenes from the campaign ranging from being on the moving decks of a Turkish sea mine laying boat to dodging canons being fired from British warships. Understanding the Turkish point of view really highlighted just how much bias we put into a lot of our written work at school and can see that it is something that needs to be carefully managed at all times. Then we headed for the ferry and home again
Today was another remarkable day spent exploring battlegrounds, monuments and cemeteries on the southern tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula. After an early start and another transcontinental ferry ride in brilliant sunshine, our Turkish guide Rabia explained that all the Turkish flags in the streets were not for us, but were to celebrate the anniversary of their republic. Today happens to be a national Youth Day (and that explains the hundreds of kids who were on the ferry with us).
Soon after, we arrived at the impressive Turkish Matyr’s Memorial overlooking Morto Bay. This 42m monument could be seen from our resort across the water when it is lit up with a red light every night. This was a place for us pay respect to the many Turkish soldiers who lost their lives in WW1. While looking at the massive monument we heard a splitting roar and a Turkish Air Force jet raced overhead and did some Top Gun type moves so close to us we felt we could almost reach out and touch it. 20 minutes later the air show ended with all 6 jets flying upside down along the water in front of us with red and white smoke streaming behind them. The air force was putting on the display for all the Turkish kids attending the monument and we just happened to fluke being there.
The main theme for the rest of the day was to understand the contribution of the English and French armies. The next part of the day was spent exploring a lesser-known, but no less important, chapter of the Gallipoli story; the battlefield at Cape Helles on the southern tip of the peninsula. British and French troops landed on the beaches at Helles at the same time the Australians came ashore at ANZAC Cove. More than 30,000 of them were killed in nine months of fighting, as they desperately tried to advance northwards and link up with the ANZACs. Everyone visited the cemeteries where many of them still lie, as well as the beaches where they were mown down as they came ashore. There were many English and Irish soldiers here to pay their respects. A special moment ensued on the shore of that very beach, where Alex was lucky enough to find a message in a bottle that wished (in Turkish) for good health and good fortune.
Our final stop before lunch was a visit to the battlefields of Krithia to discover the ANZAC’s forgotten battle at Gallipoli, which took place in attempt to aid the British in the Battle of Krithia. Hundreds of Australians and New Zealanders were killed here during a murderous advance in May 1915, yet today the battle is virtually unknown. Here we saw a 95 year old oak tree planted by an English woman after the war in memory of her lost son. Located on these grounds today is a vast cemetery which we were all able to explore. Inscribed at the centre of all Australian wartime cemeteries and memorials is the message “their name shall liveth for evermore”.
Lunch was again in Alcitepe (previously called Krithia). We were supposed to go to Suvla Bay at the top of the peninsula but it was locked off for security reasons. As rainclouds threatened to open up on us, we visited the brand new and completely interactive Kabatepe War Museum. Everyone loved the opportunity to learn about the Turkish perspective of the campaign through a 3D interactive presentation that looked like it came out of Mr Ozmen’s senior multimedia classes. Eleven rooms contained different scenes from the campaign ranging from being on the moving decks of a Turkish sea mine laying boat to dodging canons being fired from British warships. Understanding the Turkish point of view really highlighted just how much bias we put into a lot of our written work at school and can see that it is something that needs to be carefully managed at all times. Then we headed for the ferry and home again