The 100th anniversary of Anzac Day: 'Mateship' between Australia and Turkey

This year?s Anzac Day marks the centenary of the Gallipoli landing, a significant historic event for both Australia and Turkey.

Each year thousands of Australians take an emotional pilgrimage to Anzac Cove to commemorate the landing of the Anzacs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) on April 25, 1915. For Australians, visiting Turkey is almost equal to visiting Gallipoli, being at the top of their tour agenda. 

On April 24 and 25 each year, many local Turkish people also participate in the ceremony together with Australians from the Dawn Service to war memorial services. During the Gallipoli Campaign, Australia, being on the Commonwealth side, fought against Turkey, the then-Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany. Interestingly enough, the two former enemies of the same battle come together to pay tribute to their fallen men every year. 

?This is absolutely unique in our history. During the long centuries, different armies attempted to invade different parts of Turkey. But never was a piece of Turkish national land named after an invading army. Only the Anzacs were honored by Turkey in this manner,? Reha Keskintepe, Turkish Ambassador to Australia, told me.

People from other countries may ask such question as ?how can the former enemies commemorate such a fierce battle together?? feeling puzzled by the warmth between Australia and Turkey.

The short answer to this is that Turkey is ?not the same old enemy, but a different state,? the secular state created out of the old Ottoman Empire, says Dr. Karl James, senior historian of the Australian War Memorial. In our talk, he further explained that the battle of Gallipoli was the first major international operation for Australia since it became an independent state ? it had only...