I remember the day it stands clear in my mind
We went down to Dun Laoighaire to wave you goodbye
Your ma was quietly weeping, there was a tear in my eye
your sailing to Gallipoli to die

You looked so young as you stood there with a glint in your eye
and you sang rebel songs as the streamers flew high
Your ma she turned away and I heard her sigh
you are sailing to Gallipoli to die

We got only one letter we knew right away
It said deepest regrets your son was bold and he was brave
you were only 19 yet your mammy and I
let you sail to Gallipoli to die

You fought for the wrong country you fought for the wrong cause
and your ma often said that it was Ireland's great loss
all those fine young men who marched to foreign shores to fight the war
when the greatest war of all was at home

You were all that we had, your mammy and me
when you marched head erect you were proud as could be
but it killed your poor ma and it slowly killing me
when you were blown to kingdom come on the shores of Gallipoli

IRISH IN GALLIPOLI

Where Aegean cliffs with bristling menace front

The treacherous splendour of that isley sea,

Lighted by Troy's last shadow ; where the first

Hero kept watch and the last Mystery

Shook with dark thunder. Hark ! the battle brunt !

A nation speaks, old Silences are burst.

'

Tis not for lust of glory, no new throne

This thunder and this lightning of our power

Wakens up frantic echoes, not for these

Our Cross with England's mingle, to be blown

At Mammon's threshold. We but war when war

Serves Liberty and Keeps a world at peace.

'

Who said that such an emprise could be vain ?

Were they not one with Christ, who fought and died ?

Let Ireland weep : but not for sorrow, weep

That by her sons a land is sanctified.

For Christ arisen, and angels once again

Come back, like exile birds, and watch their sleep,

Francis Ledwidge................. 24th February, 1917.

Not often that you will visit a location in this world that has such a sad connection with Ireland or where so many soldiers from Ireland have lost their lives. The Dardanelles is a strait of water in Turkey leading from Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It was fortified and defended by Turkey. At the behest of Winston Churchill in April 1915 the allies attacked at Gallipoli but after much bloodshead were evacuated early in 1916, defeated. This is a sobering place to visit, a location where some 4000 Irishmen died as did people from many parts of the world in particular New Zealand and Austraila. At the memorial in Lone Pine pictured above one can view over to Suvla Bay. Irish soldies who survived compared to to Dublin Bay and at Anzac Cove it was likewise compared to Killiney. the successful defender from the Turkish side was Mustapha Kemal who in 1922 declared Turkey a Republic. He became first president of Turkey, changing his name to Kemal Ataturk, symbolising him as father of the nation.

On a Turkish memorial in Gallipoli overlooking the Aegean sea, Kemal Ataturk's words engraved in stone, proclaim an inclusive message. "To those heroes who shed their blood and lost their lives, you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore, rest in peace. There is no difference to us between the Johnnies and the Mehmets [referring to both Allied and Turkish soldiers], where they lie side by side, here in this country of ours. You, the mothers who sent their sons from far-away countries, wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. Having lost their lives on this land, they have become our sons as well." It was a joy to see how Turkey celebrate and remember in conjunction with other countries (former enemies) this war. I wonder is there a lesson for us here? If you have enjoyed viewing these photographs please click here and leave a comment or greeting on my guestbook.(Its a shame if you do not)

Please note that these photographs were taken on digital camera; images are compressed to aid speedy downloading and do not reflect the quality of final photographic prints.