Turkey commemorates the battle of Gallipoli

The Battle of Gelibolu (Gallipoli) took place on the peninsula in northern Turkey from April 25, 1915 to January 9, 1916 causing heavy casualties on both sides. The campaign is known as the Canakkale (Dardanelles) Battles since the peninsula is a part of the province of Canakkale.   Â

Turkey's Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters, Australia's Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon, New Zealand Air Force Commander Gen. Graham Lintott , Australian Air Force Commander Gen. Geoff Shepherd and British Naval Forces Commander Admiral Jonathan Band were among those who attended the ceremony.

Those attending the ceremony laid wreaths on behalf of Turkey, New Zealand, Australia, Britain, France, Canada, German, India, South Africa, Ireland, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and observed a minute of silence out of respect to those who lost their lives in the battles. During World War I, a joint British Empire and French operation was mounted to capture the Ottoman capital of Istanbul and secure a sea route to Russia.

The battle is perceived as a defining moment in the history of the Turkish people. The struggle laid the grounds for the Turkish War of Independence and the foundation of the Republic of Turkey eight years later under Ataturk, himself a commander at Gelibolu. Â

Photos: AA

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