The Dardanelles and Gallipoli
In the First World War Turkey sided with Germany. The country declared war on Russian on 29th October 1914.
Turkey defeated Russian forces and gained territory in the Caucasus. The Tsar's forces counter attacked and retook much of the area.The Russians wanted the Allies to open an offensive against Turkey.
It was against this background that Winston Churchill, the British First Sea Lord, thought that an attack in the Dardanelles would be successful.
Poor planning and leadership are often the causes mentioned in explaining why the campaign was a disaster.
The offensive began on 25th April 1915 and ended that winter.
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Rescued By a Turkish soldier
In battle there are many acts of heroism. Gallipoli saw great acts of courage by the Allied and Turkish forces. This statue shows the bravery of a Turkish soldier. He carried a wounded British soldier back to the Allied lines during the height of the fighting.
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A sea view of the Gallipoli shoreline
The Gallipoli shoreline. The Allies would land troops on this coastline. There was much fierce fighting as the Allied troops tried to reach the high ground. Australian troops reached this strategic point.
Mustafa Kemel, then a Turkish officer, was in the area on military exercises. He learned of the Allied invasion and took control. He rushed his force into the battle area and managed to hold out until Turkish inforcements arrived.
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Cenataph to Australian Soldiers who died in this campaign.
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Monument to a Turkish Officer who died defending his homeland.
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The beaches chosen for the Gallipoli landings.
This photograph was taken from the heights. The Allied troops had to fight their way up hill to take this strategic location. The Australian forces took the hill but when Attaturk's troops counter attacked they re-took the heights from the Australians and held on to them. The British were never able again to dislodge the Turks from this strategic position. |
Trenches
Trenches were dug so that the heights could be better defended. |
Turkish War Graves
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