Gallipoli,

A Poem Of WW1 ANZAC Day 25th April 2018 Let’s have at Johnny Turk Winston Churchill said, We’ll secure the Dardanelles, Keep our Russian trade fed. His words so casually uttered May have had to be eaten Johnny Turk was well Generalled And not so easily beaten. The naval campaign to start Was, at a price, repelled, The following land invasion Was resisted and held. After eight cruel months Our forces were withdrawn Half a million dead and wounded Left for both sides to mourn. They came from India, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Europe as well Only to leave their bones In Gallipoli’s Hell. And so it ended, A campaign of disaster With massive repercussion Felt for so long after. Constantinople never taken, The Ottoman Empire in shreds, Turkey arisen from the ashes which Gallipoli General Attaturk led. Words attributed to Attaturk On a plaque overlooking the Bay Honouring the dead of all Nations Still stands to this very day. Eighty one cemeteries and memorials Now overlook that battle’s scene The only mute and grim reminder That a disastrous campaign had been. And so we parade each year To respect and honour the memories, Of those that survived and those Resting in foreign cemeteries. This Poem was read out by Padre Ralph Catts, our Honorary Padre, at Hull Cenotaph ANZAC Day Parade. I had the honour of laying a wreath on behalf of Hull Veteran Support Centre. The Poem was written for the occaision.