This website has been prepared by
the first "hotel de charme" on the Gallipoli peninsula
The inscription on the base
of the statue relating to this event is attributed to Lord Richard Casey (*),
who fought in the campaign and later became Governor General of
Australia. This example represents the transformation of material mistakes into
myths, making this not a monument not one of respect to Mehmetçik but
disrespect. This story that this statue is supposed to represent, not
confirmed by any serious source whatsoever and also practically impossible, is
made even more irrelevant by the statue itself. Contrary to the inscription,
the Turkish soldier is not unarmed but carries a British riffle and a
bayonet. The authorities, realizing the absurdity of the situation but being
reluctant to alter the statue, sought to modify Lord Caseys questionable
story to fit the sculpture. Thus the situation got completely out of hand.
"Gallipoli Battlefield Guide", (Istanbul 2006), Gürsel Göncü & Şahin Aldoğan,
p. 21
(*) Orderly of Major-General Sir W. T. Bridges, commander of the 1st
Australian Division.