World War 1 began on 28 July 1914, and by early 1915, the Western Front had reached a stalemate. Calls were made to open a front through the Balkans, but the idea was not pursued at the time.
However, when Russia sought assistance from the Allies against Turkish threats in the Caucasus, it was decided to take action. A plan was formulated to conduct a naval bombardment followed by a sea landing to seize the Gallipoli Peninsula on the Dardanelles western shore.
The Initial Assault:
On 19 February 1915, the British and French forces initiated a long-range bombardment of Turkish coastal positions. Despite facing resistance, a second bombardment was attempted with 18 battleships entering the straits.
Adverse weather conditions, coupled with strong Turkish defenses and undetected mines, led to the sinking of three ships and severe damage to three others, prompting the Allies to halt the sea attack.
The Land Campaign:
When the amphibious landings commenced on 25 April 1915, the Turks had fortified their positions and increased their numbers in anticipation of the invasion.
Despite heavy fighting and the formation of bridgeheads at Helles and Anzac Cove, the Allies struggled due to a lack of intelligence, challenging terrain, and fierce Turkish resistance. Efforts to establish a third bridgehead at Sulva Bay proved unsuccessful.
Evacuation after Seven Months:
With reinforcements unavailable and the situation untenable, a decision was made to evacuate the 105,000 troops. The withdrawal took place between 7 December 1915 and 9 January 1916, resulting in 250,000 casualties, including 46,000 fatalities.
Commemorating Anzac Day:
Anzac Day serves as a tribute to the fallen soldiers at Gallipoli and beyond. Like Remembrance Day in London, Anzac Day is observed annually on 25 April by Australians and New Zealanders.
Centenary Anniversary:
On the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign in 2015, 40,000 relatives expressed interest in attending the Gallipoli 2015 dawn service. Due to space constraints, a ballot was held to allocate 8,000 tickets to Australians and 2,000 to New Zealanders, reflecting the fallen soldiers’ proportions.
Preparations and Considerations:
The Gallipoli Commemorative Service in Gallipoli National Park requires attendees to be prepared for open conditions for up to 24 hours, with temperature fluctuations necessitating warm clothing. The terrain is rugged, and visitors may need to traverse up to 8km and endure security queues.
Alternative Options:
For those unable to secure tickets, tour companies offer commemoration tours to Gallipoli, providing insights into the battle sites and memorial locations, albeit not on the official commemoration day.
