‘Atatürk memorial in Wellington’ – Ministry for Culture & Heritage; credit Jamie Mackay, 2011

Today I’m continuing this week’s ANZAC theme, which began on Monday 25, ANZAC Day itself, with a look at the place of our country’s ANZAC heritage in the NZ novel—or not, as seems more the case. On Tuesday I shared some examples of the same theme in NZ poetry.

Today I’m focusing on the ANZAC conflict from the other side; in this case the famous ANZAC Memorial penned by M. Kemal Atatürk in 1934. Kemal Atatürk, or Mustapha Kemal as he was then known, was the officer in command of the Turkish troops that successfully opposed the ANZAC troops that spearheaded the British attempt to take the Dardanelles. Throughout the ensuing  ten months of the Gallipoli conflict, Mustapha Kemal was in command during several other major engagements, such as the famous battle at Chanuk Bair.

The British-led troops, including the ANZACs, withdrew from Gallipoli on 9 January 2016. Mustapha Kemal went on to become the founding President of the modern Turkish Republic in 1923, ruling the country until his death in 1938.

He delivered the ANZAC Memorial in 1934. His words are inscribed on the memorial at ANZAC Cove, and also on the Atatürk memorial in Wellington, New Zealand, which I visited for the first time this January.

THE ANZAC MEMORIAL

Those heroes that 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 between the Johnnies
And the Mehmets to us 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.
After having lost their lives on this land, they have
Become our sons as well.