Gallipoli: The Turkish Story

by Kevin Fewster, Vecihi Basarin &
Hatice Basarin

Description:

The story of the Gallipoli campaign focussing on the Turkish perspective. Includes interviews with Turkish migrants to Australia and their children about their thoughts on Gallipoli and Australia.

'Gallipoli occupies a special place in the national memory of Australia, New Zealand and Turkey. For the British, French, Indians and Germans, the Gallipoli campaign is remembered as just another name in a long, tragic list of World War I battles. For Turks, Australians and New Zealanders it is something apart; a significant event in the self-development of their individual nations. As such, the battles have not been allowed to fade in people's memories.'

Almost every Australian and New Zealander has heard the story of the Anzacs at Gallipoli, yet most wouldn't recognise the battle by its Turkish name, the Battle of Canakkale, or recognise the battle as an invasion of foreign land. In fact very few Australians and New Zealanders are familiar with the battle beyond the experiences of our own soldiers. But what of the victors-the Ottoman armies who fought with great bravery and distinction at Gallipoli? Gallipoli: The Turkish Story portrays the view from the Turkish side of the trenches, and in doing so paints a richer portrait of the past and broadens our knowledge and understanding of this tragic event.

When Alec Campbell, the last surviving soldier from Gallipoli, passed away in 2002, his death was mourned by Australians and Turks alike. In the last decade or so Turks and Australians have seemingly buried their enmity and now see Gallipoli as a unique bond between two nations-a central element upon which their friendship is bound. This bond has encouraged a growth of respect and interest in each other's countries and cultures which is increasing rather than diminishing as time passes.

About the Authors

KEVIN FEWSTER was born in Australia in 1953. He has been researching World War I for the past twenty years and from 1976 to 1979 he taught history at the University of New South Wales, Royal Military College, Duntroon. He holds a PhD from the University of New South Wales is now the Director of the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. Kevin Fewster is the editor of Gallipoli Correspondent: The frontline diary of C.E.W.Bean, published in 1983. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2001 for services to museums and maritime heritage.

VECIHI BASARIN was born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1947. He trained in Turkey as a chemical engineer and later lived and worked in Norway, the United States, Brazil, Germany and the UK before migrating to Australia in 1973. He recently established his own consulting company after working many years in public and private sectors in energy and engineering related fields as a manager.

HATICE HÜRMÜZ BASARIN was born in Izmir in Turkey in 1955. She trained in Turkey as a town planner and migrated to Australia in 1979. Since then she has completed a Masters degree in urban planning at the University of Melbourne and has worked as a policy and research officer on land use planning, local government and public housing related issues.

Vecihi BasrIn and Hatice Hürmüz Basarin re coauthors of The Turks in Australia: Twenty-five years down under which was published in 1993 to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of migration from Turkey. The book focuses on the achievements of families on the very first migrant charter flights that flew from Turkey to Australia in1968. They have two daughters, Zeynep and Alev.