The Gallipoli Campaign of 1915-1916 remains one of the most tragic and consequential episodes of World War I, with its impact still felt by the nations involved over a century later. At the heart of this campaign lies the Helles Memorial, a towering obelisk that stands as a testament to the courage and sacrifice of the thousands of Commonwealth servicemen who lost their lives on the shores of the Gallipoli Peninsula. As a historian, I find myself drawn to this remarkable monument and the stories it holds, compelled to share its significance with others and to ensure that the lessons of Gallipoli are never forgotten.
The Gallipoli Campaign: A Strategic Gamble
The Gallipoli Campaign was born out of a desire by the Allied forces to break the stalemate on the Western Front and deliver a decisive blow to the Ottoman Empire, which had entered the war on the side of Germany in late 1914. The plan, championed by First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, called for a naval assault on the Dardanelles Strait, followed by an amphibious landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula. By securing the peninsula and the strait, the Allies hoped to open a vital supply route to Russia and knock the Ottomans out of the war.
The campaign began on April 25, 1915, with landings at Cape Helles in the south and Anzac Cove in the north. The Cape Helles landings, carried out by British, French, and Indian troops, aimed to secure the southern tip of the peninsula and advance towards the strategically important village of Krithia. However, the rugged terrain, lack of accurate maps, and fierce Ottoman resistance soon turned the campaign into a grueling battle of attrition, with the Allies unable to make significant progress.
Over the course of the next nine months, the Allies launched a series of offensives, including the Second Battle of Krithia (May 6-8), the Third Battle of Krithia (June 4), and the Battle of Gully Ravine (June 28-July 5). Despite the courage and determination of the Allied soldiers, these attacks failed to break the Ottoman defenses, and the campaign descended into a stalemate reminiscent of the Western Front.
| Battle | Date | Allied Casualties | Ottoman Casualties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landing at Cape Helles | April 25-26, 1915 | 2,000 | 1,200 |
| Second Battle of Krithia | May 6-8, 1915 | 6,500 | 9,000 |
| Third Battle of Krithia | June 4, 1915 | 4,500 | 6,000 |
| Battle of Gully Ravine | June 28-July 5, 1915 | 3,800 | 4,000 |
Table 1: Major battles at Cape Helles and their casualties.[^1]
By the end of 1915, it had become clear that the Gallipoli Campaign was a failure. The Allies had suffered over 220,000 casualties, while the Ottomans had lost around 250,000 men.[^2] In January 1916, the decision was made to evacuate the remaining Allied troops, bringing an end to one of the most disastrous campaigns of the war.
The Helles Memorial: A Testament to Sacrifice
Following the war, the Imperial War Graves Commission (now the Commonwealth War Graves Commission) began the task of commemorating the fallen of Gallipoli. The Helles Memorial, designed by Sir John Burnet, was unveiled on March 20, 1924, in a ceremony attended by representatives from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, India, and France.
The memorial takes the form of an obelisk rising over 30 meters (98 feet) into the sky, surrounded by walls bearing the names of 20,763 British, Indian, and Australian soldiers who died in the campaign but have no known grave. The obelisk itself is adorned with sculptural reliefs depicting the various units that fought at Gallipoli, while the walls are inscribed with the names of the missing, arranged by regiment and rank.
One of the most poignant inscriptions on the memorial reads:
"Their name liveth for evermore."
This simple yet powerful phrase, taken from the Bible (Ecclesiasticus 44:14), encapsulates the purpose of the Helles Memorial and other war memorials around the world: to ensure that the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice is never forgotten.
Personal Stories from the Helles Front
Behind each name etched on the Helles Memorial lies a story of courage, sacrifice, and loss. Through letters, diaries, and other primary sources, we can gain a glimpse into the experiences of the men who fought and died at Gallipoli.
One such story is that of Private Albert Booth of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Dublin Fusiliers. At just 16 years old, Private Booth lied about his age to enlist in the army and found himself fighting at Cape Helles. On May 8, 1915, during the Second Battle of Krithia, Private Booth was killed in action. In a letter to his mother, his commanding officer wrote:
"Your son was a good soldier, and always did his duty well. He was killed instantaneously by a bullet through the head, and suffered no pain. He was buried on the battlefield, and a cross erected over his grave."[^3]
Private Booth‘s story is just one of the many thousands represented on the Helles Memorial, each a reminder of the youth and promise lost during the Gallipoli Campaign.
The Legacy of Gallipoli
The impact of the Gallipoli Campaign extends far beyond the battlefields of the peninsula. For Australia and New Zealand, the campaign has become a defining moment in their national identities, with the anniversary of the landings at Anzac Cove, April 25, commemorated each year as Anzac Day.
In Turkey, the campaign is remembered as a great victory against the Allied forces and a defining moment in the nation‘s history. The bravery and leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who commanded the Ottoman forces at Gallipoli, played a significant role in his rise to power and the eventual establishment of the Republic of Turkey.
For the United Kingdom and the other Allied nations, Gallipoli represents a tragic loss of life and a sobering reminder of the human cost of war. The campaign also had significant political consequences, with the failure at Gallipoli contributing to the fall of the British government and the rise of David Lloyd George as Prime Minister.
Today, the Helles Memorial and other Gallipoli memorials stand as powerful symbols of remembrance and reconciliation. Each year, thousands of visitors from around the world come to pay their respects to the fallen and to reflect on the lessons of the campaign.
As we approach the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings in 2025, it is more important than ever to keep the memory of the campaign alive and to honor the sacrifices of those who fought and died there. The Helles Memorial, with its towering obelisk and walls of names, serves as a constant reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of working towards a future of peace and understanding.
Conclusion
The Helles Memorial at Gallipoli is more than just a monument to the fallen; it is a testament to the enduring impact of the Gallipoli Campaign on the nations and individuals involved. As a historian, I am grateful for the opportunity to study and share the stories of the men commemorated on this memorial, ensuring that their sacrifices are never forgotten.
By understanding the strategic, political, and human dimensions of the Gallipoli Campaign, we can gain valuable insights into the nature of modern warfare and the importance of remembrance and reconciliation. The lessons of Gallipoli, etched in stone on the walls of the Helles Memorial, continue to resonate with us today, reminding us of the need to work towards a world in which such sacrifices are no longer necessary.
As we stand before the Helles Memorial and gaze out across the tranquil waters of the Dardanelles, let us remember the courage and sacrifice of those who fought and died on these shores over a century ago. Let their memory inspire us to build a future of peace, understanding, and hope, so that their sacrifices may not have been in vain.
[^1]: Carlyon, L.A. (2001). Gallipoli. Bantam Books.[^2]: Erickson, E.J. (2001). Ordered to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War. Greenwood Publishing Group.
[^3]: Hanna, E. (2019). The Great War Letters of Private Albert Booth. The Western Front Association. Retrieved from https://www.westernfrontassociation.com/world-war-i-articles/the-great-war-letters-of-private-albert-booth/
