Thousands gather on Turkish battlefields

Thousands of people gathered on former battlefields in Turkey to honour soldiers killed in the devastating World War I Battle of Gallipoli 94 years ago.

New Zealand’s Governor General Anand Satyanand and Australia’s Foreign Minister Stephen Smith joined Turkish officials today for a solemn dawn service remembering soldiers from Australia, New Zealand and other allied nations who died in the campaign.

On April 25, 1915, troops from Australia and New Zealand, under British command, first landed on the Gallipoli peninsula to wage an ill-fated campaign against the Ottoman Turks.

The Allies recorded 55,000 killed. Turkish casualties were estimated at 250,000.

Visiting the battlefields in northwest Turkey has become a pilgrimage for many Australians and New Zealanders.