Traditional ‘Dawn Service’ held at Anzac Cove

As part of the commemoration ceremonies of the 107th anniversary of the Çanakkale Land Wars, the traditional “Dawn Rite” was held at Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

A group of approximately 200 Australians and New Zealanders passed through the city center of Çanakkale to the Gallipoli Peninsula at night.

The participants, in sleeping bags and blankets, watched the documentary, film, interview and Anzac Day ceremonies in some cities on the giant screen set up in the ceremonial area, waiting for the “Dawn Rite” to begin.

In the program that started at dawn, New Zealand Veterans Minister Meka Whaitiri and Australian Ambassador to Ankara Miles Armitage gave speeches on the meaning and importance of the day.

The letter of the Great Leader Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to the families of foreign soldiers who lost their lives in the Çanakkale Wars was read.

Çanakkale Governor İlhami Aktaş and representatives of other countries laid wreaths on behalf of the Republic of Turkey in the event area, and a moment of silence was held.

Meka Whaitiri, New Zealand Veterans Minister, said in her speech at the program, “Gallipoli has a special place in New Zealand’s history. It also holds a special place for me as a member of parliament of Maori origin.” said.

Noting that 36 people of Maori ethnic origin from New Zealand were sent to Gallipoli during the First World War, Minister Whaitiri said that these soldiers were buried in Gallipoli after they lost their lives in the war.

Expressing that it is a tragedy for Australians and New Zealanders to not know what happened to the graves of those who died in Gallipoli, Whaitiri said, “(Gallipoli) I acknowledge the generosity of the Turkish government and people who have made this place a memorial to all who fought here, and support us to commemorate them safely and respectfully. I would like to.” he said.

Minister Whaitiri stated that as a result of the studies carried out so far, identity information was written on the graves of 413 of the 2,332 New Zealand soldiers who died in the First World War in Çanakkale.

“We promise to remember them every year when the sun rises and sets. Today we will do so personally, nationally and internationally. We will remember all of them. We find solace in the fact that Turkey continues to honor the memory of the soldiers, regardless of their nationality.”

In his speech, Australian Ambassador to Ankara Miles Armitage said that Australians have been commemorating those who lost their lives in the First World War for more than 100 years.

Noting that Australia lost more than 8,700 soldiers between April and December of 1915, Ambassador Armitage said, “We thank our Turkish friends for making it possible to continue the commemoration ceremonies in this special place after 2 very difficult years (due to the Covid-19 outbreak). we do.” he said.

The program ended with the singing of the national anthems of Turkey, Australia and New Zealand, followed by a prayer. -Sinclair, Germany’s Ambassador to Ankara Jurgen Schulz, Canada’s Ambassador to Ankara Jamal Khokhar, Morocco’s Ambassador to Ankara Mohammed Ali Lazreq and guests from Turkey and abroad attended.

Anzacs and Anzac Day

Anzac is an abbreviation of the first letters of the words Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

The Anzacs fought on behalf of their allies at the Dardanelles in 1915 and later in the Middle East and Europe. Anzac Day commemorates the anniversary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915.