I had the privelidge of attending the 2012 Dawn Service at Anzac Bay, Gallipoli, on 25 April and with many other give thanks and remember those who not only lost their lives at Gallipoli but those who fought and lived through the terrible battles as well. It was a moving experience and one I will never forget.
Although the service started at 0530 hours a group of us, consisting of an Australian, one Canadian and the remainder British, arrived at the site at 2200 hours the night before. We had been told to be early as the local roads were narrow and the police closed the roads to traffic early to avoid any problems. Even arriving at that time there were already hundreds of people there mostly in sleeping bags lying on the grass. Backpacks, alcohol, open bottles of liquid, flammable liquids, weapons and sharp objects were not allowed and there was an airport type screening on entering the site which was done in a pleasant manner. We were all tagged with a hospital type bracelet to indicate that we had cleared security and then given another tag to indicate that we were one group, again all very efficiently done. Each person entering for the service were also given a commemorative bag with books giving the story of the Gallipoli Campaign, a beanie and other items relating to Anzac Day.
I estimated that there were over 1000 people sleeping on the grassy areas and at the start of the service about another 4000 people were there. This may not have been the total number for the whole commemorative services as they stretched over three locations, Anzac Bay, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair while we only went to the Dawn Service. There were large groups who had come to the service as part of a tour round Europe and as far as I was told those that were there wanted to be there for their own personal reasons and a good percentage were young people. It was thought that 90% of the people were from Australia.
It was cool when we arrived but became colder during the night and morning. Although we were well dressed for the weather the cold was just about as much as we could cope with. There were blankets for sale if they were wanted. While everyone waited for the service to begin large screens showed films of the fighting, interviews with servicemen who had been at the fighting and comments by some of the soldiers citing the incompetence of the officers with the resultant waste of young lives in a conflict far from their homes.
The actual service began with music and singing then addresses by various politicians and members of various military personnel from Australia, New Zealand and Turkey. It was strange to see representatives from the Turkish Government and Military Forces present but it was made clear that the Turkish Forces recognised the bravery of the Australian and New Zealand Forces and treated the dead and injured with honour and compassion.This for me was the most telling part together with the fact that men from one city, town or district stood up and advanced from the trenches knowing that as groups of 150 men at a time they had very little chance of surviving.
Copying from the order of service the following means so much.
Although the service started at 0530 hours a group of us, consisting of an Australian, one Canadian and the remainder British, arrived at the site at 2200 hours the night before. We had been told to be early as the local roads were narrow and the police closed the roads to traffic early to avoid any problems. Even arriving at that time there were already hundreds of people there mostly in sleeping bags lying on the grass. Backpacks, alcohol, open bottles of liquid, flammable liquids, weapons and sharp objects were not allowed and there was an airport type screening on entering the site which was done in a pleasant manner. We were all tagged with a hospital type bracelet to indicate that we had cleared security and then given another tag to indicate that we were one group, again all very efficiently done. Each person entering for the service were also given a commemorative bag with books giving the story of the Gallipoli Campaign, a beanie and other items relating to Anzac Day.
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| Hundreds sleeping |
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| The same hundreds awake |
I estimated that there were over 1000 people sleeping on the grassy areas and at the start of the service about another 4000 people were there. This may not have been the total number for the whole commemorative services as they stretched over three locations, Anzac Bay, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair while we only went to the Dawn Service. There were large groups who had come to the service as part of a tour round Europe and as far as I was told those that were there wanted to be there for their own personal reasons and a good percentage were young people. It was thought that 90% of the people were from Australia.
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| Looking back to the cliffs over the bay |
The actual service began with music and singing then addresses by various politicians and members of various military personnel from Australia, New Zealand and Turkey. It was strange to see representatives from the Turkish Government and Military Forces present but it was made clear that the Turkish Forces recognised the bravery of the Australian and New Zealand Forces and treated the dead and injured with honour and compassion.This for me was the most telling part together with the fact that men from one city, town or district stood up and advanced from the trenches knowing that as groups of 150 men at a time they had very little chance of surviving.
Copying from the order of service the following means so much.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young. Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted: they fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.
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