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Dear Reader,
ANZAC now belonged to the past, and during the war all energy was concentrated on the future, but the influence of the Gallipoli Campaign upon the national life of Australia and New Zealand had been far too deep to fade. Though the expeditionary forces of the two Dominions were only in their infancy, and afterwards fought with success in greater and more costly battles, no campaign was so identified with them as this. In no unreal sense it was on the 25th April 1915, that consciousness of... nationhood was born.
ANZAC Day is a national day of commemoration in both Australia and New Zealand (Turkey commemorates on 18th March) when we remember all those who died in war. So great were the losses at Gallipoli during World War One, the impacted heavily on our relatively small populations.
The ANZAC landings were the first occasion where the soldiers of these two fledgling nations fought together. Mutual respect also developed between the ANZAC's and the Turkish soldiers at Gallipoli. While under British command, the ANZAC's acted independently and with great bravery. In Australia's case, soldiers of state battalions arrived at Gallipoli and, at least for those who survived, left as Australians. In the process, a legend was created that survives to this day.
In much the same way, the Battle of Gallipoli 1915 is central to the creation of modern Turkey. Nationhood is frequently forged in the crucible of battle.
Each year, large numbers visit the Gallipoli Peninsula on ANZAC Day to remember those who died during the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915.
The Gallipoli Peninsula is a place revered by the Turkish people and visitors are asked to respect the environment and in particular, to recognise that thousands of soldiers who fell there, including within the ANZAC Area, have no known grave. It is also the place where, among a quarter of a million Turkish casualties, at least 87,000 Turkish soldiers died defending their homeland against the Allied invasion of 1915.
Thousands of British, French, and Indian soldiers as well as Australians and New Zealanders, died at Gallipoli. Over 22,000 British soldiers died at Gallipoli and an increasing number of visitors from the United Kingdom visit Gallipoli on ANZAC Day to pay their respects to both the ANZAC's and their own nation soldiers. ANZAC Day Gallipoli has become an international day of commemoration.
We fully realise the importance of Gallipoli & ANZAC Day to our Australian and New Zealander guests in particular, and will keep striving to make this experience a special one by providing the best services and expertise.
We offer for ANZAC Day Gallipoli 2008 eleven different ANZAC Day Gallipoli Tours, to ensure that our ancestors who fought in the name of freedom are not forgotten.
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