Battlefield Remains Unearthed By Wildfires In Gallipoli Covered Over By Kiwi Team

Battlefield
remains from World War I unearthed by wildfires and rain on
the Gallipoli Peninsula in Türkiye have been covered over
by Kiwis involved in commemorative duties.

Members of
the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) who were in Gallipoli
as part of the planning team for Anzac Day commemorations
were made aware of the uncovered remains and their location
near the Chunuk Bair memorial.

When the area was
assessed, it appeared some of the remains may have already
been moved so after discussions with Commonwealth War Graves
Commission staff, the decision was made to ensure remains
were covered and secure, with as little disturbance to the
surroundings as possible.

New Zealand commemoration
lead John McLeod said a small team, including members of the
NZDF and the NZ Embassy, assisted in the covering up of
remains that were exposed.

“It was the
right thing to do. We consulted with local authorities about
best practice and with the upmost respect and honour, we
covered up the remains, laid poppies and took a moment of
silence for each of the remains”.

The
group recited a karakia and The Ode, and played the Last
Post as they reflected across the area where the historic
trenches have been exposed following the devastating
wildfires in August last year.

Heavy rain in the area
since the wildfires have also added to the disturbance of
the soil.

Mr McLeod said given the number of dead
across the peninsula, attempting to remove the fragmentary
remains of the dead from all sides would do more damage to
the remains as well as destroy the battlefield and
surrounding environment. The collective approach from all
countries is to minimize the impact of ongoing human
interference on the battlefield and respect it as the final
resting place of so many men.

“After the battle of
Chunuk Bair, it was impossible under battlefield conditions
to recover or bury all of the dead,” he said.

From
August 1915 onwards, the area around the Apex, where the
most recent remains were found, was occupied by New Zealand
units along with British forces. The area was a place of
significant fighting as the Ottoman forces attacked after
having recaptured Chunuk Bair.

“It’s important the
public acknowledges the sacredness of what is essentially
one large cemetery. There are dead from all sides, laying
side by side, and the various memorials across the heritage
site honour those who never made it
home.”

Mr McLeod said the small team was
humbled to be able to honour the remains in the area in a
small way, and it was a very stark reminder of what Anzac
Day commemorations in the area mean to those who acknowledge
it.

If members of the public do come
across remains or remnants of war in on the Gallipoli
Peninsula, it is recommended they are left in place or
gently covered so that they are not
exposed.

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