Each year the Gallipoli Association offers a bursary tour for a school or youth organisation to visit Gallipoli, it’s always a real pleasure to be able to guide and share this evocative, thought-provoking battlefield with today’s youth and this year it was Upper Wharfdale School from Skipton, North Yorkshire.
Twelve students alongside two staff, Clive and Adem Bicer (Our lead guide in Canakkale) made up the party to spend the week in Canakkale and study the events, impact and legacy of Gallipoli from both sides of the wire.
The group began by looking at the naval operations prior to the landings with visits to the excellent Naval Museum, the famous minelayer ‘Nusret’ and fortifications close to Kilit Bahir. They then studied the Helles Landings at V & W beaches before visiting the French battery to discuss the coalition nature of the campaign. The day ended at Helles Memorial.
The following day focussed on the Anzac Sector, beginning with a boat trip to Anzac Cove to glimpse the key points from sea, a walk along the landing beaches, visits to Lone Pine, Quinns Post and ending the day at the Nek.
Our final day was spent at Suvla Bay, including following a number of the Yorkshire battalions that fought at Gallipoli, after visits to Suvla Point, Hill 10, Azmak and Scimitar Hill we looked the importance of this feature, alongside W Hills in protecting the Turkish gun lines and logistical hubs beyond. The tour ended with visits to the excellent museum in Boyuk Anafarta where the students loved meeting owner Ozay Gundogan to discuss their own country, Turkey and of course Football before a final visit to Bigali to truly understand Mustapha Kemel’s command and control of the campaign.
Assistant Head John Mitton said, the trip was such a huge success. I have had a chance to speak to all the students and Teachers about their time in Turkey. The feedback has been absolutely tremendous. All of the students said it was a rich and particularly interesting trip – and hugely enjoyable. The Teachers were gobsmacked by the whole experience – from the food to the hotel to the guides. Everyone spoke so highly about it all.
These tours are vital in many ways, not least of which is that we must pass the torch to the next generation in order that they continue the process of remembrance and study. One stand out success in the programme has been the appointment of a youth engagement post by the Gallipoli Association. Sophie Haworth, from Portsmouth, went to Gallipoli on the bursary trip in 2022 and she found it so interesting that she is now studying War Studies at Kings College London and we are sure she will go on to be a great ambassador for the Association and the fine work it does.
