TURKEY: Turkish and British relatives of World war one Gallipoli soldiers meet in Gallipoli

Record ID: 349362

  • Title: TURKEY: Turkish and British relatives of World war one Gallipoli soldiers meet in Gallipoli
  • Date: 21st March 2008
  • Summary: CLOSE OF WAR GRAVES AND INSCRIPTIONS
  • Embargoed: 5th April 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: History,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA8U0Q7TAZVML3OK2GS8A8NDHYH
  • Story Text: Descendants of ANZAC, British and Turkish soldiers, who fought against each other during the Gallipoli campaign in the First World War, come together for Turkey's March 18 naval victory commemorations and for the Peace Ambassadors project, launched by Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), to bring the grandchildren of the war together, in Gallipoli where their grandfathers fought 93 years ago .
    Twenty-six years-old Emma Slack-Smith planted a tree for peace at Gallipoli on Tuesday (March 18) where her great-grandfather fought for eight months during the Gallipoli campaign in the First World War 93 years ago.
    Slack-Smith was part of the Australian delegation invited by Mrs. Emine Erdogan, wife of the Turkish Prime Minister, to promote peace, international understanding and a shared sense of history between those countries involved in the Gallipoli campaign.
    Emma never met her great-grandfather Lieutenant Clarence Lundy MC, who landed at Gallipoli on the first day of the campaign and fought until the very last day as a trench digger, but on Tuesday Emma was very aware of the fact that she was walking through hills he trod on and recalled memories of the war told to her by her grandmother.

    "My grand-grandfather landed just over there on the beach all those years ago. So, particularly special to think that he fought here and he was living among these hills eight months, that is really special and emotional," said Emma remembering what her grandmother told about his eight months at Gallipoli hills fighting.
    Emma said that the invitation of Mrs. Erdogan is something that she could not say no to and that she appreciated the Turkish peace initiative. She was pleased to represent Australia with other descendants of Australian veterans, Ailsa Hawkins, Karen Throssell and Jo Hardy, at Gallipoli in Turkey's 18 March Naval Victory Commemorations.

    "We would like to give a nice message to the world that we can construct peace by woman," said Edibe Sozen, deputy chairwoman of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Turkish Parliamentarian, emphasizing the party has worked for a long time on this peace initiative project to bring all descendants of Galliploi veterans together to promote peace.
    The battle of Gallipoli was fought on land and at sea in Gallipoli during World War I. The British and the French were trying to take control of Istanbul as well as the Turkish straits to secure access to Russia. However, they were unsuccessful in their efforts and the campaign ended with heavy casualties on both sides and left the veterans with many stories to tell their families.
    Another descendent, Australian Jo Hardy said her grandfather was the last survivor of the war and passed away in 2002. Her grandfather was just 16 years old when he landed at Gallipoli.

    "It gives you a tremendous understanding of how brave they were, and of course coming and looking at all those graves gives you, you know, very God wrenching feeling," said Hardy after visiting graveyards and trenches of soldiers on hills of Gallipoli.
    Emma said the Australia-Turkey relationship was a special one and for many Australians, Gallipoli is an important part of their Australian identity.
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