Gallipoli Service - Fri 25th

We are at the Gallipoli ANZAC sleepover.  
It's definitely a memorial rememberence experience as it's obviously a complete contrast to what soldiers in any war experience.
We have mobile phones and social media. Multi media and hot chocolate.  Green grass and beautiful weather.
(I note in contrast to I see rain in Brisbane)
At first I feel guilty but on the other hand the contrast stimulates the mind to consider the horrors experienced by the ANZACs and all soldiers in all conflicts.
Earlier we watched a doco from, I think,  the 1980's, that featured interviews with old men who'd been soldiers at Gallipoli and that was interspersed with photos and film from the actual war.
We say "Lest we forget" and its certainly this time of year that I give thanks for the sacrifice of those who have fought and given us the freedom we now have.   
I hope and wonder if "we" really value life as much as we should.

 

THE SERVICE

5:30am

The service, in my view, Was very respectful, dignified.  They had the Australian, NZ and Turkish National Anthems and dignitaries from each country (and others) lay wreathes.  There were a couple of Christian prayers and someone has scripted a few words that the chaplain/priest  says beforehand - to ask people who are not of faith to use the time to reflect.  Seemed nice to me.

 

Here you can see Gallipoli bay on the western side of the peninsula. 

Frank Phoebe James

The crowd queuing for toilets and Tea.

Lone Pine service- We sat amongst the grave stones.  This along with the many other cemeteries both Allies and Turkish really bring home the human cost.  Gives some kind of humanity to the statistics.

Lots of trenches everywhere.

Often Allied and Turkish trenches were only 8m apart

There has been some reconstruction in the recent past to try and show more what it was like

Turkish graves.  Many many young men died defending their homeland

Beautiful girl amongst the canola.