Gallipoli – a cultural connection
Lone Pine Gallipoli - a panorama
So much of my thinking leading up to this trip has focused on how to engage with Turkey as cultural strangers, as people who have no direct connection to the culture and history of this foreign land. This has been an ongoing subject in many conversations about our collaboration – exploring how we can create work that was more than a tourist observation, a skimming of the surface so to speak.
Our experience at Gallipoli challenged some of these assumptions today, as the history of this site has a narrative that is central to the national identity of Australia. What I was not ready for, was the impact that this place would have on me. This story is one that I have known my whole life, even though I have no direct relatives who served at Gallipoli.
Perhaps why I was overwhelmed by my visit to this site, was not only because Gallipoli figures so prominently as part of the Australian national identity but because of how this event has tied together multiple national histories – most significantly the ANZACs (Australia and New Zealand) and Turkey. What evolved from this bloody World War One conflict is a firm friendship between nations joined together in mourning and loss. What I also found very interesting was how the ANZACs and Turks would share with each other – throwing canned food and bags of tobacco to each other in the trenches.
Statue of Turkish soldier carrying a wounded Australian soldier
In 1934 Atatürk (Mustafa Kemal) wrote a tribute to the ANZACs killed at Gallipoli, which is featured on a memorial at Anzac Cove:
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.
This inscription also appears on the Kemal Atatürk Memorial, ANZAC Parade, Canberra.
For me, what was most touching about the visit to Anzac Cove and Lone Pine was the respectful way our tour guide, Ganul discussed the events. As we left Lone Pine, Ganul put Eric Bogel’s ‘And the Band played Waltzing Matilda’, asking people to ‘please don’t cry’. I am sorry Ganul, but I am certain there were many tears quietly shed as we drove through the beautiful hills surrounding this memorial site.
Here is The Pogue’s version of Bogel’s famous tune:
Wish I had known you were going there! My grandmother’s brother is buried there.
Cathy H xxx
Hi Cathy,
Funny you should say that – I twas thinking when we were at Lone Pine that you had lost family there. It is a beautiful place and well looked after. xoxo
Dad and I had a little weep as we read of your experience at Gallipoli. My Gandma W brother died in England of wounds received WW1 – not sure where he was wounded. Also my Gandad W brothers served in WW1. My Grandad H served in France in WW1 – he was in the Artilery (horse drawn artilery) he was wounded. So we have connections to WW1.
Thanks Mum – I knew that there were relatives that fought in WW1 but was not clear about the details. I think if you made the journey to Turkey yu would be very moved by going to Anzac Cove and Lone Pine. The way that the site is maintained is a real credit to the Turkish – it is simple and beautiful
I think Dad and I will have to consider a journey to Gallipoli some time. The experience sounds so reverent and memorable. Maybe not on ANZAC day though. For Australians who died in theatres of war overseas and consequently burried in foreign lands, their graves are maintained by the Australian Government through the Australian War Grave Commission. My cousin Ian’s father is buried in Bouganville. Sadly he was killed in action 6 weeks before the 2WW ended. I trust you’re continuing to enjoy your Turkey sojourn.
Love from Mum xx
Hi Mum,
It is well worth it, though I think it would be too crowded on ANZAC day. I can highly recommend the tour we did of Turkey if you want to see lots of the historical sites – which we will be writing on. You would love the underground city and the cave churches in Cappadocia – they are magical places and we are looking forward to going back to Cappadocia. xxt
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Reblogged this on Geokult Travel and commented:
Today is ANZAC day so I thought that I would repost an article from our 2001 trip to Gallipoli.
I still struggle with the fact that this event is one of the most significant in our history. There is so much history in Australia that is not acknowledged, which makes it difficult to heal the pain of the past and collectively move forward as a community.
Gallipoli is a powerful place and now nearly 100 years later, this story has created a strong friendship between countries once at war. When we were in Turkey, so many people knew about Gallipoli and were so welcoming to us when they knew we were from Australia.