Thur 24th Toward Gallipoli

Today we begin our pilgrimage to Gallipoli. Emotions begin to bubble up as I start to think about it. 

I recall as a little kid going with my father in the dark to the war memorial in Canberra for the dawn service. Later with and without kids to local and city dawn services. 

Here in Turkey and pondering the actual event and it brings home the futility of war.  Necessary and tragic at the same time.  I'm not espousing pacifism. It's the fight that gives us the freedom we have. Once we were enemies and yet here I am welcomed by the Turks.

Here in Turkey, both sides remember the sacrifice and respect the other. I was in a shop and the shop keeper spoke about mother's sending and losing their sons. On both sides. The absolutely tragic waste.

There are so many graves here. It bring meaning to the statistics. 

It's a war though that solidified three countries. Australia, New Zealand and Turkey. I understand that for the first time Australian and New Zealand troops fought in the name of their own countries. Modern Turkey born from the death of the Ottoman empire and the successful defence of their homeland.

This is a life size diahrama of WW1 trench warfare. Only 8m apart. Certain death in the front lines. Very even.  A stalemate. Tens of thousands died on both sides.