ANZAC Day
Anzac day was beautiful. We arrived at Gallipoli in the dark and set up camp inbetween the thousands of other aussies and new zealanders camped out in the cold. At 430am 91 years ago the first Australian soldiers from Queensland came ashore where we where sitting huddled together. In the darkness they didn't see the massive rugged hills and cliff that would ultimate be their death sentence.
As the light grew around us and the dawn ceremony started and as the last post played you could see how the odds against them where far too great. Looking behind us in the new light the sandy hills and cliffs were steep and unforgiving, it was amazing to think that actually got to the ridge but how useless the campaign was to begin with.
It is the ANZAC amazing spirit, something to be incrediblely proud of. At the end of the fighting 8709 Australians had died and 21493 had been wounded. Of the graves we walked around the average age of Australians that died at Gallopoli was 22 years old. My age. The heart ache and young lives that poured into this soil is something truly sacred.
It is hard to descride the sense of anger at a campaign that was a death sentence and war in general mixed with the awe and admiration at the young soldiers that face their death here in this foreign land. I have never been more proub to be Australian than as when the National Athem played.
As the light grew around us and the dawn ceremony started and as the last post played you could see how the odds against them where far too great. Looking behind us in the new light the sandy hills and cliffs were steep and unforgiving, it was amazing to think that actually got to the ridge but how useless the campaign was to begin with.
It is the ANZAC amazing spirit, something to be incrediblely proud of. At the end of the fighting 8709 Australians had died and 21493 had been wounded. Of the graves we walked around the average age of Australians that died at Gallopoli was 22 years old. My age. The heart ache and young lives that poured into this soil is something truly sacred.
It is hard to descride the sense of anger at a campaign that was a death sentence and war in general mixed with the awe and admiration at the young soldiers that face their death here in this foreign land. I have never been more proub to be Australian than as when the National Athem played.
430 am in the morning. The cliffs that the ANZAC couldnt see are lit up.
Trying to keep warm in negative degrees as we camp out
The rocky shores of Gallopli
The Australian service at Long Pine known to the Turks as Bloodied hill. This is the site of epic battles between the Australians and the Turks and is now a grave yard to the Aussie diggers.
This was written by the Ataturk the Turkish Leader. It was read at dawn service by a young Turkish soldier. It proves that after war there can be peace respect and a new understanding. I love this line:
"After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well"
posted by Mon at
8:37 pm
4 Comments:
Wow.
Mon maybe you are a writer!
It is weird that the turkish are happy for all the celebrations to continue now (except for when they try to build a highway through the burial grounds I suppose). But it is just weird that now there is Australians on the shore remembering those that died there. The turkish ambassador to Argentina came to the ANZAC day ceremonies at the Australian embassy here..I thought that was pretty cool too.
An amazing part of the journey Moni.What a strange and wonderous feeling to be most proud of your heritage in a land and people so different to ours.Grief and honnour does unite us all.
Also a sense of humour and a laugh with others you meet is a great gift.Thank you for your fine words.Love Mum x
Hey kylie long time no love! Nice to hear from you.
It is pretty amazing but the Turks really think of Australians as their family in a sense! There was 2000 young Turkish ppl at the ANZAC dawn service with us it is really special to them. Like Ataturk said 'They have become our sons now' and you feel that in the ppl whenever they find out that we are Australian. I think that during the fighting a mutual respect was forge and after that came a love that grows from sorrow.
It was awesome to be there on Anzac day where my great grandfather fought.
Lots of love
Mon
PS mum ahhh you love me!
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