Gallipoli

We embarked early this morning for a quick ferry ride to the Gallipoli peninsula in order to learn more about the World War I Battle of Gallipoli. We learned how the Turks fought off the numerically superior, but badly commanded, Allied forces who were forced to withdraw nine months later; this battle holds special significance for Australians and New Zealanders, as both nations lost many soldiers.

Sometimes trenches were separated by only about 25 feet. The trenches have themselves been filled in over time as the earth and erosion does its thing. In fact, one picture I have included shows how you can see the top of the tunnel which gives a sense of how much the trench has filled in.

I won’t launch into a deep history lesson of what we learned today. Suffice it to say that much like our visits to the landing beaches of Normandy I am reminded of the horrors of war and the many young lives that are cut short when leaders can’t, or won’t, solve their differences in a more peaceable manner.Read more