The Summer Amy: Canakkale, Anzac Cove and Gallipoli

So glad Sally never takes 'NO' for an answer....

For a while there it was looking like very expensive mooring in Istanbul and a 5 hour bus ride down the Galipolli peninsular to do a tour of the whole area. The tour takes an entire day, 8:45am to 6:00pm. Monument after monument, grave yard after grave yard, all must see's but grueling in still, 36 degree heat.

Tight squeeze but plenty of room - Canakkale Marina

We had been informed that Canakkale Municipal Marina could not accommodate any boats over 12 meters.

We are 13.6 meters. There are no other places nearby to leave the boat so Sal made her call. "no problem, we have space for you" came the reply.

We would be there mid afternoon on the 4th August Sal told them not knowing just how strong the current running through this part of the Dardanelles are. With freshly cleaned propellers and engines running 500 revs faster than usual, we could only make 5 knots. Should have been 9.... We got there late afternoon.

A very cute harbour in a large, historically famous, picturesquely water fronted town. It is where the British naval bombardment started on the 18th March 1915. That highly intelligent military maneuver that forewarned the Turks that a land based attack was on the cards in the near future. That was part 1 of the most ridiculous catastrophe costing well over 200,000 lives.

Canakkale is also the home of the Trojan Horse used in the movie 'Troy' staring Bard Pitt and is the gateway to the ancient city of Troy. That is the marina in the background.

Allied Forces Memorial

So, I'll brief you on the whole Gallipoli event... 'Brief' being the operative word, it was highly enlightening, not a little emotional and you really should make time to get here if you haven't already done so.

The allied forces comprising British, French, Indian, Australian and New Zealand troops landed at the very tip of the peninsular and some a few kilometers up the northern side of the peninsular. They fought for 7 months, the objective being to take Istanbul at the top of the peninsular... some 250kms away. As previously stated, the Turks were forewarned, totally under estimated (thanks simply to racism) and brilliantly lead by Mustafa Kemal "Ataturk"

Loan Pine. 10,000 killed in four days
on the size of a football field!
We arrived on the day of the 100 year commemoration.

To give this some perspective.... Imagine they were trying to capture something the size of the back of your hand. In the seven months they managed to capture the finger nail on your pinkie. Try that now... look at the back of your hand and you'll get the picture...

So, over 100,000 Allied forces died. The Turks reckon they lost somewhere around 140,000 troops. We know that in both wars, ANZAC troops were regarded as canon fodder by the likes of Churchill, but spare a thought for the French who lost 2000 more than we did... Two British Generals were relieved of there duties when having been on the ground suggested to Churchill that we really, really should withdraw.

ANZAC Cove just around the corner
Imagine fighting your way up this lot!

It was only when Lord Kitchener had a word or two with him that the withdrawal was planned. All trenches had to be dug two feet deeper for his reconnaissance trip, Kitchener was a tall man.

The only successful part of the entire debacle was the withdrawal during which not a single life was lost...

A beautiful Turkish memorial

So, we arrive, we kill 140,000 Turks and after 7 months, we leave... and here is what the Turkish leader had to say about it...

"Those hero's 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." (1934 - Mustafa Kemal ATTATURK)

Amazing!

By the way, this blog has had over 10,200 page views... Thanks Mum!