One hundred years ago, on January 9, 1916, the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign came to an end. For eight months, soldiers and sailors from various parts of the British and French empires had attempted to force the Ottoman Turk Empire out of World War I.
It had commenced as a naval operation, but the combined Anglo-French fleet could not force a way through the Dardanelles straits to reach the capital of Constantinople, today Istanbul. Consequently, it was decided to use land forces to capture some of the defences and facilitate another attempt by the fleet to get through.
The initial landings were made at daybreak on Sunday, April 25, 1915, by Australian and New Zealand troops at what was to become known as the Anzac sector.
British and French troops were to land at other areas in the southern part of the peninsula later in the day, in what was to become known as the Helles sector.
Numerous government buildings were adapted for use as hospitals and convalescent camps to help cope with the thousands of casualties
A number of errors and actions resulted in a stalemate that saw the invading force being kept within a short distance of the beaches by the Ottoman defenders. This situation was to last for the entire duration of the campaign despite a number of attempts to break out of the beach heads. With so many thousands of troops contained within such a small area, sanitary problems arose and these forced the evacuation of many men due to illness, apart from battle wounds.
Conditions grew worse when the heat of summer gave way to harsh winter storms, with men drowning when trenches became flooded. Others froze to death and many more suffered frostbite.
The decision to evacuate the peninsula was approved in early December and it was anticipated that there would be heavy casualties.
The first part to be evacuated was to be the Anzac sector. Up until the designated date, December 20, 1915, the number of troops was gradually reduced each night until just a handful remained.
To maintain the appearance of everything being normal in the last phase of the withdrawal, a self-firing rifle was introduced. The trigger was pulled by a system in which water dripped from one water container to another. The entire exercise was an outstanding success with no casualties.
The Helles sector was gradually evacuated in a similar manner at the end of the month, but this time the Ottoman defenders were extra alert. Nonetheless, the evacuation was also carried out and only one life was lost when the final troops pulled out on January 9, 1916.
Malta played an important part by servicing the allied fleets and sending a labour corps to help with logistical duties on the beachheads. Prisoner-of-war camps were also set up here for those nationals belonging to the opposing countries. At one stage, half way through the campaign, hand grenades were produced for use on the peninsula. However, the island became much more well known for its humanitarian contribution in caring for the sick and wounded – earning the title of ‘Nurse of the Mediterranean’.
Numerous government buildings were adapted for use as hospitals and convalescent camps to help cope with the thousands of casualties. Despite the efforts of the medical staff, some of the casualties were never recovered and were buried in cemeteries throughout the island.
Although in a few circumstances some graves contain a single burial, the rocky nature of the island made it more practical to place multiple burials within the graves. Initially, each grave had a small recumbent headstone made of local stone to commemorate each individual buried within it.
Those families that wished to erect a private memorial were given the opportunity to do so.
With the founding of the Imperial War Graves Commission (today known as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission), and it being entrusted with the maintaining of the graves, a number of changes came about. During the 1920s, circulars were sent to the next of kin to advise them of the compilation of cemetery registers which they could purchase, as well as giving them the opportunity to compose epitaphs which could be put on the headstones being replaced by the Commission. Each letter cost 3½ pence and there was a maximum length of 66 characters – including spaces between words.
Malta was among the countries where the first anniversary of the landings was commemorated. A service, led by Rev Charles Tobin of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, was held at the Pietà Military Cemetery on April 25, 1916.
In later years, what became known as Anzac Day began to be marked by ceremonies held at the same cemetery and in the military section at the Addolorata Civil Cemetery. Following the construction of the War Memorial in Floriana, a single ceremony started taking place there. It was later moved back to the Pietà Military Cemetery, where it continues to be held to this day.
In 2013, an Anzac memorial was erected in Argotti Gardens, Floriana, as a result of a private initiative. A plaque affixed to the memorial proudly mentions some of the representatives on the committee that oversaw the dream become reality. Errors related to some details of the men carved on the memorial were brought to the attention of two of the entities listed on the plaque a month before it was inaugurated. However, despite this and the appeal made last year, none of the entities involved have taken the necessary action to rectify these errors.
Even though the Gallipoli campaign came to an end, Malta continued to contribute to the allied war effort in support of the Salonika campaign in northern Greece.
Although the evacuation of casualties to Malta declined with the increase of submarine activity in 1917, the island maintained its naval importance.
It should also be noted that members of the Maltese Labour Corps saw service in Salonika and some of the men from this unit are buried in cemeteries there.
Regretfully, what was proclaimed to be the war to end all wars, did not live up to expectations and conflicts have continued to plague subsequent generations ever since.