Gallipoli by Chris

June 2010

We pick up our private guide and start our tour at the Ecebat museum. Our guide tells us the history from the Turkish perspective and we come to understand how betrayed the Turks were, it makes it all seem even more pointless.

The museum is interesting, the different Allied uniforms giving some insight to the different troops. Naturally the French is the most stylish with blue trimmings. We then drive round to the Landing Beach - Brighton and on to Anzac Cove - what a terrible difference a mile makes! The cliffs are steep here and must have been a terrible disappointment to the boys, not to mention making them such a target. I stood in the sea and tried to imagine what these young men felt.

Then on to the north beach. This entire area is cared for well and there are good history boards. We then went to Lone Pine Cemetery - quite beautiful with wild and planted poppies and roses flowering. Too sad to read the headstones as Aged 17 , aged 18 aged 19 was a bit overwhelming. We then went to 2nd Ridge and our guide took us through the trenches and tunnels, all the time bringing the area to life with stories. Why were the trenches only 8- 10 metres apart ? So neither side could use gas we are told. Very useful though as Turks would ask for newpapers for their cigarettes and in exchange they would give the allies cigs. The Allies threw over a tin of beef jerky, they threw it back with a note saying no thanks send us some of your biscuits.

We also visited Bloody Ridge,the 57th Memorial and Chunuk Bair. It was a very moving 4.5 hour tour, we all thought it was the most amazing experience and we loved getting the total picture.  Our tour guide was passionate, knowledgable, compassionate and we cannot imagine how you could get this level of understanding without a dedicated Gallipoli Guide. Even the guys who thought they had a good war knowledge were surprised at how much they learnt. Absolutely our highlight experience.