100 years ago, thousands of soldiers struggled ashore on a narrow beach at Gallipoli at the start of an ill-fated campaign that would claim more than 130,000 lives

The headstone of Giuseppi Camilleri, of the Malta Labour Corps, who is buried there. Although a number of Malta-born servicemen died and are commemorated at Gallipoli, he is the only one who actually has a headstone, as the others have no known grave.The headstone of Giuseppi Camilleri, of the Malta Labour Corps, who is buried there. Although a number of Malta-born servicemen died and are commemorated at Gallipoli, he is the only one who actually has a headstone, as the others have no known grave.

Today marks the centenary of the ill-fated landings on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. Known as Anzac Day, it is predominantly observed as a national day of commemoration in both Australia and New Zealand, but it does not belong solely to these two nations.

Not only did the men serving in the forces of these two nations originate from a multitude of countries around the world, but men from various other parts of the British and French empires also played a leading role.

The idea was the brainchild of Winston Churchill as an attempt to knock the Ottoman Turk Empire, which was allied with Germany, out of World War I. It initially began as a naval operation whose ultimate goal was to sail through the Dardanelles into the Sea of Marmara and threaten the capital city Constantinople, now known as Istanbul.

However, a number of early attacks gave the game away and allowed the Turks and their German allies ample time to consolidate their defences. Consequently, the main allied thrust of March 18, 1915, was repulsed with heavy losses in ships and men for the combined Anglo-French fleet. This date is commemorated along the same lines in Turkey today as the Battle of Canakkale.

The failure of this attack to achieve its goal brought about the idea of using troops to capture part of the Turkish land defences and thus allow the ships to get through. The Greek government allowed the invasion force to use the islands of Imbrosand Lemnos as an advanced headquarters and base for the duration of the campaign.

The attack began with landings in the early hours of April 25 in an area just north of Gaba Tepe, which was later to become known as the Anzac sector. Further landings at different locations were made later in the day in the southern part of the Gallipoli peninsula, which was later to become known as the Helles sector.

Thousands of allied sick and wounded troops passed through Malta during this time, resulting in it becoming known as ‘the nurse of the Mediterranean’

The defenders successfully managed to prevent any real advance in either sector, with the result that the invading force was confined to restricted areas. The terrain and lack of sufficient water favoured the defenders and gave rise to numerous hardships – one of the worst being illness brought about by lack of adequate sanitary arrangements. The Anzac sector was reluctantly evacuated in December, and the Helles sector was evacuated in January 1916.

Wounded soldiers being taken to hospital in Malta.Wounded soldiers being taken to hospital in Malta.

A St John Ambulance postcard.A St John Ambulance postcard.

Casualties were evacuated by sea from the peninsula to hospitals at various destinations. One of these was the island of Malta which, as part of the British Empire, had contributed to the war effort in a number of ways. Apart from the obvious use of the island as a naval base, Maltese men saw service in the armed forces as well as the merchant navy. A number of them lost their lives for king and empire, and were once commemorated by name on the War Memorial at Floriana.

But the island’s greatest contribution was having been turned into a large hospital and convalescent depot thanks to the foresight of its governor, Lord Methuen. This was achieved by converting public buildings and barracks, as well as the use of tents and huts, in various parts of the island. Thousands of allied sick and wounded troops passed through the island during this time, resulting in it becoming known as ‘the nurse of the Mediterranean’.

The Anzac Memorial in Argotti Gardens, Floriana.The Anzac Memorial in Argotti Gardens, Floriana.

Some of these men did not recover and are buried in Malta, together with a number of the medical staff. Although the majority of the graves were used for multiple burials, each serviceman originally had an individual reclining headstone, unless their relatives wished to put up a private headstone at their own expense.

The general type was later replaced by a horizontal stone covering the entire grave, with individual inscriptions and unit badge for each serviceman in it. At the same time, relatives were invited to submit brief epitaphs for inclusion on the new-style headstones.

Malta was among the countries that commemorated the first anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli. The local ceremony was held at the Pietà Military Cemetery and was led by the New Zealand Military Chaplain, Rev. Charles Tobin. Another ceremony for Catholic servicemen was held later at the Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery, as the Bishop had been unable to attend the event on the day.

The holding of ceremonies at both locations continued until the inauguration of the War Memorial in Floriana in 1938, when these services were combined. They continued to be held there until 1977. As of 1979, this was replaced by an ecumenical service at the Pietà Military Cemetery.

More recently, a private initiative saw the construction of an Anzac Memorial in the Argotti Gardens in Floriana. Unfortunately there are a few errors in the details of the men commemorated. It would be a fitting gesture if these could be corrected for prosperity during the centenary year.

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