Introduction to Gallipoli

The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkey, Europe. The name comes from the Greek word “gallipoli” meaning “beautiful city”. The City belonged to the Ancient Greeks but was soon reclaimed by one of the Ottoman Turkish empires. Gallipoli is most well known due to World War 1 where the battle between Australian and Turkish soldiers took place.

The Battle of Gallipoli took place at the peninsula of Gallipoli between 25^th April 1915 and 9^th January 1916. This campaign was the first major battle undertaken by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps or also known as the ANZAC. The legendary acronym, ANZAC was formed on the battlefields of Gallipoli and the Western Front in 1916.

The first thing many people think of when mentioning of Australia's connection to the First World War would be Gallipoli. At the outbreak of war, Australia was eager to pledge 20 000 men to Great Britain. When announced by the Britain Government, many men from both Australia and New Zealand joined the army and signed up to fight in the war. More than 8,000 Australian soldiers died and around 15,000 were wounded, fighting in the Great war.

The Australian soldiers displayed their tremendously fearless and brave traits.  The commitment to duty, the courage in the face of the horror of war and the overwhelming sense of mateship were all huge contributing factors that helped form the well known acronym, ANZAC.