Found abundant evidence of the battle of Gallipoli Peninsula where in 1915 and 1916 one hundred thirty thousand soldiers died …

We happened on a Turkish graveyard at Akbash Sehitligi, with a tableau in bronze. I be dog if I can find any interpretive material on it. But I have an idea what it’s about.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the modern state of Turkey, is everywhere. Every village has a statue of Ataurk. What came to light was the commanding role of the Turkish army officer Mustafa Kemal in the repulse of the Allied invaders at Gallipoli.

His surname, Ataturk (meaning “Father of the Turks”), was granted to him in 1934 and forbidden to any other person by the Turkish parliament. (http://www.ataturk.com/)

Near the ferry dock in Eceabat, a tableau of bronze statues depicting the battle. Remembered what Jim Kempling told us in History 359: the battle was decisive in the formations of national character of both Turks and Australians.

“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 live side by side now here in this country of ours… you, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway 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. (1934—Mustafa Kemal ATTATURK)”

Efficient ferry service across the busy Dardanelles to Çanakkale (pronounced Chan-na-ka-lay, I think), where we made a beeline for the Hotel Limani, the Lonely Planet Turkey Top Choice for this town, half a block from the dock. We got welcome Cokes and were relieved of about $140 Cdn for a California King bed with breakfast and this spectacular view …

The view out our hotel room window …

The restaurant, directly underneath, was just okay.