Gallipoli Memorial Wreath-Laying Ceremony in the Crypt of St. Paul’s Cathedral

This service is arranged by the Gallipoli Association. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh laid a wreath at the Gallipoli memorial. Photos by Stephen Chambers, Nick Staines, Michael Fordham and Andrew Taylor.

Order of Service

Introduction given by The Reverend Canon Dr. Neil Evans.

Wreaths were laid by:

• His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh.
• Alderman and Sheriff, Bronco Masojada on behalf of the Lord Mayor.
• Dr. Andrew Murrison MP - Minister for Defence people and Families representing His Majesty’s Government.
• Rear Admiral Richard Murrison, RN on behalf of the First Sea Lord.
• Major General Richard Clements, CBE on behalf of the Chief of the General Staff.
• His Excellency, the Honourable Stephen Smith, High Commissioner for Australia.
• His Excellency the Honourable Phil Goff, CNZM, High Commissioner for New Zealand.
• Ms Orla McBreen, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Ireland.
• His Excellency, Mr Osman Koray Ertan, Ambassador of Turkey
• Captain Christopher Fagan, MBE, DL, President, the Gallipoli Association.

Recitation: In Memoriam was given by Mr. James Watson Smith, Gallipoli Association whose Great Uncle E.P. Smith, was killed at Gallipoli on 1st May 1915 whilst commanding 17th Brigade RFA.

Recitation: The words of Kemal Ataturk was given by His Excellency Mr. Osman Koray Ertas, Ambassador of Turkey
The words of Kemal Ataturk, delivered on the occasion of the first visit to Gallipoli after the war by British, Australian and New Zealand mothers and widows in 1934.

The Last Post: Sounded by Lance Sergeant Ellis Ward, Band of the Irish Guards.
By permission of Major General James Bowder, OBE. Major General Commanding London District

Lament: Played by Pipe Major Jim McLucas, London Scottish Pipes and Drums.
By permission of Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Strickland, president of London Scottish Pipes and Drums.

Reveille

Lesson: Read By His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh from Ecclesiasticus 44. 1-3

Prayers: Led by the Canon in Residence. Followed by the Lord’s Prayer and The Blessing

Parade and Cenotaph Ceremony at Whitehall

Some of the Association’s members who marched. Photo (top) by John Dansey.

Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving, Westminster Abbey

Photos by Nick Staines.

Service and wreath-laying at the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire

Gallipoli Association Hon. secretary and Trustee Margaret Carter laid a wreath at the stunning Gallipoli Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.

Service at Brandwood End Cemetery, Birmingham

by Ian Binnie

Gallipoli/ANZAC Day was commemorated in the ‘second city’ on Sunday 21st April at Brandwood End cemetery in Birmingham. Eight Gallipolians are commemorated or buried there.

We were fortunate to have Major General Tim Hodgetts, Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands present and the service was led by the Revd. Canon David Warbrick, Vicar of All Saints Kings Heath. There was a good turn out of community groups, the local RBL and representatives of the local council and we even had some sunshine! Well done to The Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery for their ongoing support. We are looking forward to an even bigger event on the 110th anniversary.

Dawn service at Western Necropolis, Glasgow

Photos courtesy Jim Duffy.

Service at the Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh Castle

Jim Duffy laid the wreath on behalf of the Gallipoli Association at Edinburgh Castle. 

Anzac Day on the island of Lemnos

Ceremonies were held at the CWGC Cemeteries in Mudros and Portianou on the island of Lemnos on 26th April. Dimitrios Boulotis is the Gallipoli Association representative on the island. He writes:

Yesterday it was a glorious sunny day and the celebrations were very successful.

The Minister of Defence Mr, Nikos Dendias was representing the Greek Government.

Also present were the Chief of Armed Forces, Chief of Army, Vice President of Greek Parliament MP Mr Athanasiou, representatives of the Major Political Parties, the Local Authorities, the Ambassador of Australia, the Honorable Consul of New Zealand, the 1st Secretary of the Embassy of India and a lot of people.

After the main ceremony we laid some flowers at the port of Moudros and at the Cemetery at Portianou.

Then we visited the Turk's Head Peninsula and I made a little guided tour for the attendants.

Anzac Day at Ramleh

by Michael D. Robson

No doubt in response to the difficult local security situation, the Australian embassy in Tel Aviv decided to hold their 2024 Anzac Day service at the CWGC Cemetery, Ramleh. To compound their challenges on the day, they also had to cope with high winds and an unseasonable heatwave which broke an 87 year old record.

Nevertheless, shortly after 09:30hrs we were welcomed on behalf of the embassy by Group Captain Amanda Cornell, who then gave way to Rabbi Eddie Belfer for the reading of the Anzac Day Prayer.

Next, the 23rd Psalm was then read by the Rev. Dr. Stewart Gillan of St. Andrew's Church, Jerusalem, before Major Matthew Jaensch ADF, recited 'In Flanders Fields'.

H.E. Dr. Ralph King, the Australian Ambassador, gave the address, before the laying of wreaths at the Stone of Remembrance, including one on behalf of the Gallipoli Association.

The famous 1934 statement attributed to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was then read by Ms. Bilge Turhan of the Embassy of Türkiye in Tel Aviv, followed by two verses of Binyon's 'For the Fallen' read by Captain Michael Martin ADF.

A Minute's Silence was observed between the Last Post and the Rouse.

Finally, the closing Blessing by the Rev. Dr. Gillan was preceded by the United Kingdom Defence Attaché, Colonel Jo Burgon's reading of 'A Soldier's Prayer'.

Dawn service, Poona, Queensland

Wreath laid by Vicki Genrich, former Treasurer of the Gallipoli Association.

Dawn service, Redfern war memorial, Sydney

Our new chairman of the Australian NSW/ACT chapter of the Gallipoli Association, Paul Simadas, placed a wreath at the base of the Redfern war memorial in Sydney for the 2024 Anzac Day Dawn Service. The wreath was made of Australian native flowers and displayed a commemorative card especially made for the service.

A commemoration of the 29th Division in the Great War

The annual commemoration of the Gallipoli landings 0n 25th April 1915 and the service of the 29th Division on that day, was celebrated at Holy Trinity Church Eltham on Sunday 28th April this year. The church is unique in having a Gallipoli Chapel established by Henry Arthur Hall, vicar of the parish. He accompanied the men out to Gallipoli, celebrating Holy Communion for them in the midst of battle, for which he was mentioned in dispatches. He succumbed to sickness and was invalided home. His experience in the Dardanelles resolved to set up a memorial for those who did not return. The Chapel was unveiled by General Sir Ian Hamilton on 25th April 1917.

The tradition of an annual commemoration began in 1919 on the Sunday nearest to the 25th and has continued ever since, except for one break during Covid.

Wreaths were laid by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Greenwich, Matthew Burrow, Jacquelyn Stevens representing Australia, Angel Kenealy for New Zealand, CSM Ola Philip Oyelegau from the Fusiliers, a representative from the Royal British Legion, the congregation, and Hester Huttenbach on behalf of the Gallipoli Association. (Hester’s father was in “B” Battery 29th Division and survived by being sent home with acute dysentery.)

Ola Philip Oyelegau read out the names of those who fell at Gallipoli, followed by Angel Kenealy reciting the Ode in both Maori and English.

This was followed by the Last Post, two minutes silence and then the Reveille.

The Service was conducted by Father Daniel Wyman, ably assisted by The Reverend Canon Chris Newlands accompanied by the organist, musicians and choir.