It was another early rise for those in the 2013 ANZAC Tour. Beginning the day with a ferry ride from Canakkale to Ecebat across the Dardanelles Strait. This was where we met our tour guide for the day, Izzet, who we soon found out, has plenty of knowledge about World War I. From this ferry ride we began our drive to the Gallipoli Peninsula where we started the day with a talk at Brighton Beach by our guide. Brighton Beach was the intentional landing place for the ANZAC troops in 1915, however they landed at ANZAC Cove, North Beach. There are two different theories behind why we landed at North Beach, including the current causing the ships to drift North, and a strategic change of plan by the Commander. After seeing the blue of the ocean at Brighton Beach we were back on the bus to head for Shrapnel Valley. At this cemetery another poem was read, this time by Lucas Taylor. From here we continued walking up the hill to the memorial for those who were killed in the Plugges Plateau battle. At this point there was an opportunity to view ANZAC Cove from a higher perspective, which was breathtaking. Again we climbed higher, and through the bushes until we reached the highest point of the plateau. From here we could see where we camped the night before the Dawn Service. We walked down a little further to take memorable photos above the start of ANZAC Cove. The Ari Burnu Cemetery was the next stop, where Jake East got the opportunity to read his poem. Then we conducted our own ceremony at ANZAC Cove where Brittany Seaton, Emily Wishart, Liam Bergersen and Anthea Abbott read passages and poems before the laying of the wreath by Tahlia Dawson Gibbs, Lucas Taylor, Emily Wishart and Fraser Bebbington. This ceremony was very special and emotional to most of the group as we were at the position where many Australians lay at rest. This ceremony that we held in remembrance for the ANZAC's was the last one that we would attend, other than the poems that were read later in the day. Here at ANZAC Cove we also had Courtney Salmeri play the Australian Nation Anthem on her guitar while the group sang. After this we made a quick venture to Hill 60 and then took the bus back to Beach Cemetery where we had lunch under a tree. It was here that we revisited the grave of John Simpson, the medical officer with his donkeys. Matthew Flanagan read his poem here as a sign of respect. Finally we made our way up to Lone Pine for the last time where Liam Bergersen read his poem. We made our way up to Johnson's Jolly, where we explored the trenches before carrying on to The Nek, depicted in the film "Gallipoli". It was here where so many troops were mown down so dramatically, with wave after wave being sent over the top of the trenches. Being at The Nek, it was surprising how close the two forces were during this attack. They say tje battlefield was only size of a tennis court, and being there reinforced that realisation. Following The Nek was Walkers Ridge, and Tyler Anania had the opportunity to read his poem by the side of a Maori New Zealander grave. As the day grew on we made our way to Baby 700 where we commemorated a relative of a friend of Jeremy De Vos, and at this headstone Travis Taylor read his poem which had in fact been written by a previous tour student. Finally we heaved the bus up the hill to Chunuk Bair, the major memorial for New Zealand. This was our last stop for the day. We walked around taking in our surroundings before heading back to our hotel. "My Tour's Restaurant Rules" was continued tonight at a restaurant chosen by Rod Salmeri and Wayne Sanford. The results for this meal will be revealed tomorrow morning on the bus to Istanbul.
By Brittany and Tyler
For more pictures of the tour please visit Mr Bylund's photo blog
at jebx4.tumblr.com
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