ANZAC Raid

And the band played Waltzing Matilda, as the ship pulled away from the quay
And amidst all the cheers, the flag-waving and tears, we sailed off for Gallipoli

- Eric Bogle, And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda

"The bus leaves promptly at six am. Be down in the lobby by five thirty am ready to board the bus." This is how our Topdeck tour guide greeted us on Wednesday night, before our ANZAC tour began. 

So, up at five am, a quick shower and head down stairs. It's about a four hour bus ride to Gallipoli and knowing I won't get a chance to sleep again till three pm the following day I take every opportunity to snooze on the bus. When we arrive at Gallipoli (bus number 16) we are asked to wait in the holding bay. Which is a really beautiful coast line. 

As it gets later the bay fills up more and more. At two thirty pm we get asked to  make our way down to ANZAC Cove. We make the walk past Beach Cemetery and Shrapnel Valley Cemetery. The sky was crystal blue, the sun was shinning down on us, the birds were singing and waves crashed in the distance. And despite the perfect day, our hearts were braking.

Reading tombstone after tombstone of men so young who were sent to the slaughter was more horrendous than I imagined. There were ones with verses from the Bible, ones which boasted of pride and duty. The ones that broke me however, where the ones that were personal and simply honest; they stated a simple, 'Well Done Ted' or 'Baby and I you left alone' or an appreciation...

...or looking to the future... 

...or a source of strength in a hopeless situation.... 

as we made our climb back down towards ANZAC cove we found this poppy that landed in the thistles.  

At six pm they began letting us in by the order we arrived and we set up camp.

At eight pm they began playing documentaries about WW1, interviews with survivors over the year, short films, recounts of what happens, what survived, why it all went wrong and stories about others who took part in the Gallipoli campaign. 

We got in our sleeping bags lay back and watched, chatted a little and even rested our eyes, but no sleep was had and at five am we arose for the dawn service. 

It was just the most amazing experience. Pride I didn't even know I had was awoken within me and sorrow for these young men and the broken families they know left behind. Singing the Turkish, New Zealand and Australian Anthems consequently was amazing. There was such a sense of respect for the Turks all through the Gallipoli experience.  They were rightfully defending their land and we were following orders. There was no blame. There was understanding and there was mourning and sorrow for the Turkish Soldiers who had died too. 8 709 Australians died at Gallipoli, 2 721 New Zealanders and a harrowing 86 692 Turks. 

In 1934, Ataturk, the founder of modern day Turkey, said about the ANZAC's killed at Gallipoli,

    "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 now 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."

We then made our way from ANZAC Cove to Lone Pine. Where one lone pine tree stands, it is third generation of the one that stood their during the War in 1915. 

(This is Frankie my class Teddy Bear he came along and reported back to my class about our time in Gallipoli, it is also the only photo I took with the Lone Pine.) 

After the Australian Service at Lone Pine we headed to Chunuk Bair for the New Zealand Service. Chunuk Bair is where the New Zealanders fought as it is a hill allowing you to see the whole area. It was hopped in securing the Hill the Allied Forces could take Turkey and have a non-sea route to Russia. 

Along the way we saw the trenches our men were fighting in. 

The New Zealand Service was beautiful. His Excellency Lieutenant General The Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae, is such a genuine, well-spoken and respected man. It was an honour to hear him speak. The highlight of the service for me was hearing How Great Thou Art sang in Maori.

It was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had.


From your favourite proud Australian,
Joey!