Lest We Forget: The Women of Gallipoli

I make no apology for writing a similarly themed post to last year.

It is 100 years since Gallipoli and we have mourned and celebrated the lives of the men who bravely fought there- and we should go on doing this in gratitude for their service for as long as we all can. Because of their sacrifice we can live our lives in relative peace and without fear.

What I did not know, however, was that there were 8 women at Gallipoli too. Seven Australian nurses and their matron were on board the hospital ship The Gascon moored off Anzac Cove. From the ship's deck these women had to witness the massacre, listen to the cries of the fallen and dodge shells fired at the boat. They then had to tend to the wounded, deal with serious overcrowding on the ship and cope with rapidly diminishing resources. There is a detailed account of one of those nurses here. Muriel Wakeford wrote letters to her local newspaper back home describing the Gallipoli campaign and telling of the need for more medical personnel, braving a backlash from the government who had been sending out propaganda that we were winning the war. Having worked as a nurse for many years I cannot begin to imagine what life must have been like there, the horror and the suffering and the utter helplessness and frustration at not being able to give the care needed.

But this is also a romance blog and we celebrate the triumph of love over all, and I'm happy to say that Muriel led a life befitting one of our heroines- dealing with conflict and disapproval from all and amidst the chaos of war she fell in love with a dashing officer on board ship (which was obviously forbidden, plus he was catholic and she was protestant), but she finally overcame all barriers and married her sweetheart in 1916. They moved to Kenya and then to London after the war and had (at least) one son.

So, on ANZAC Day, while remembering the men who gave up their lives, please add in a huge prayer of gratitude to the 8 amazing women who cared for the sick and tended to the fallen with as much respect and honour as they could. And send up a little extra cheer for Muriel Wakeford, a true heroine of the time.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them

ANZAC Day- Commemorating the fallen

Originally chosen to commemorate the fated Gallipoli campaign (that took place on the Gallipoli peninsula, Ottoman Empire) in World War One in 1915, ANZAC  Day, held on 25th April every year, is the day of Remembrance for all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in wars, conflicts or peacekeeping missions. The ANZAC acronym stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. Like Remembrance Sunday in the UK and Memorial Day in US it is time for reflection and remembrance and thanksgiving for those who gave their lives for the freedoms we have today.

Anzac Cove

Being a newcomer to NZ we were unaware of ANZAC Day when we arrived here 12 years ago, but now we take part in one of the dawn services that are held around the country every year. This year we will be attending the service at the Auckland War Museum with a Turkish student, our guest, who has flown in for this specific event, although he will be staying with us for about 18 days.  He has come here as part a cultural exchange programme with our local high school and a high school in Tasmania. This exchange has been running for three years and both my sons were lucky enough to be selected to stay with the Turkish students and visited Gallipoli on the Turkish Day of Remembrance which is March 18th. I have their permission to share some of the photos they took in Gallipoli to give you an idea of the event there. (Unfortunately it is a military event so photos aren't allowed of the actual ceremony, but here are some they caught in between times).

War Memorial site, Gallipoli

The idea of the exchange is to foster positive and happy relationships between the countries who fought against each other and suffered many losses and casualties- a way of trying to heal the wounds and right the wrongs and of bringing three nations together. We have certainly enjoyed being a part of this programme and I know my sons have benefitted hugely from visiting Turkey and learning more about the Gallipoli campaign, the Turkish people and the beautiful country.

The exchange group 

Graves of the fallen on the Gallipoli hills

There is a strong military presence

Modern day uniform and 1915 uniform

Turkish flag

getting set up for the ceremony

One of the memorial cenotaphs

sail past

fly past

Remembrance garden

Commemoration to the ANZACS

Sunset over Anzac Cove

We can only hope that our children and their children and generations to come can learn from the blood shed and can take forwards the legacy these brave men and women fought for.

We will remember them