Turkey - Summer 2003
Photos by Adam Jones
Photo Gallery 4: The Gallipoli Battlefields
I.
This photo and following: looking out towards Suva Bay,
where the Allies staged an abortive follow-up attack, seeking to break
the lethal stalemate on the Gallipoli front.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Lone Pine Cemetery
VI.
A Turkish statue on the battlefields commemorates a famous and apparently factual event on the first day of fighting, 25 April 1915. In the testimony of Australian First Lieutenant Casey, "At Chunuk Bair [the furthest point of penetration in the Allied invasion] ... there was heavy trench fighting between the Turks and the Allies. The distance between the trenches was eight and ten meters. Ceasefire was called after a bayonet attack and the soldiers returned to their trenches. There were heavy casualties on both sides and each collected their dead and wounded. From between the two trench lines came a cry for help from an English captain who was very badly wounded in the leg. Unfortunately, no one could leave their trenches to help, because the slightest movement resulted in the firing of hundreds of bullets. At that moment an incredible event occurred. A piece of white underwear was raised from one of the Turkish trenches and a well built unarmed soldier appeared. Everyone was stunned and we stared in amazement. The Turk walked slowly towards the wounded British soldier, gently lifted him, took him in his arms and started to walk towards our trenches. He placed him down gently on the ground near us and then straight away returned to his trench. We couldn't even thank him. This courageous and beautiful act of the Turkish soldier has been spoken about many times on battlefields. Our love and deepest respect to this brave and heroic soldier." Cited in Mustafa Askin, Gallipoli: A Turning Point (Çanakkale: Keskin Color Kartpostalcilik Ltd. Sti., 2002), p. 29.
