100th ANZAC day anniversary in Turkey. Photo courtesy of Cazz via Flickr.
The annual observance of ANZAC day has long been an important holiday for Australians and New Zealanders, held every April 25th to commemorate the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought on Turkish soil during WWI. 2015 marks 100 years since the ANZAC troops first landed on Turkey’s Gallipoli Peninsula, to start what would become an 8-month-long battle against the Ottoman army, and many Australians and New Zealanders will be traveling to Europe to honor the 100th ANZAC Day Anniversary in Turkey.
Each year, Gallipoli is the site of the largest ANZAC day commemorations outside of Australia, including a Dawn Service at the Anzac Commemorative Site; an Australian Memorial Service at Lone Pine; and a New Zealand Memorial Service at Chunuk Bair, but with so many wishing to attend the Centenary services, tickets for 2015 were decided by ballot. Not being able to attend the main services shouldn’t discourage you from visiting though – they’ll also be a number of special services and memorials held between April 21st and April 27th, and it’s a poignant time to tour the WWI sites, cemeteries and memorials of Gallipoli.
It’s even possible to take a special 8-Day ANZAC Centenary Cruise from Istanbul, which includes visits to ANZAC Cove, where the troops landed on April 25th 1915, and a tour of significant battle sites like North Beach, The Nek and Hell Spit. Most importantly, you’ll have time to pay your respects at the Beach Cemetery, the Turkish Memorial, Lone Pine Memorial and Chunuk Bair Memorial, as well as watching the centennial Dawn Service streamed live onto a big screen onboard your cruise ship.
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