gallipoli battlefields

Paul Reed is one of the leading historians on the WW I and has currently published five books and worked on and appeared in several documentaries, including one on Gallipoli. This started a “love-affair” which goes on as we speak and Paul makes it a habit to “pop over” at least once a year. For more details on his many activities have a look at his website.

Kenan Çelik, one of Turkey's leading experts on the Gallipoli Campaign, has been guiding thousands of people on the Gallipoli battlefields, including many dignitaries. In 2000, he was awarded the Order of Australia, becoming the first Turkish citizen to receive this award. Since retiring as a lecturer in English language and literature at the 18 Mart University in Çanakkale, Kenan has concentrated on leading tours over the battlefields. Do pay a visit to his website.

The picture shows Phil Curme updating his travel journal in the shadow of the Duckworth Oak in Redoubt Cemetery, Gallipoli. Phil is a seasoned battlefield visitor whose extensive travels across several continents are eloquently documented in words and pictures on his web site . He is an occasional contributor to the BBC and is a familiar face on the military history speaker's circuit in the UK.

In 1997 after retiring, Güven Pınar, an architect by education, left Izmir for Eceabat, a place with emotional connections not only because his mother had lived here in the past but also because his great uncle was killed here in 1915. Although his intentions were to enjoy his retirement his interest in the Gallipoli Campaign grew with every new book he read. He now shares his interest & knowledge of the campaign with others and works as a licensed tour guide and has his own website.

Şahin Aldoğan was born in Elazığ in 1948. He finished Military High school and Navy School before being sent into retired with the grade of Lieutenant. When not in the Peninsula, he worked on short & long haul merchant vessels and has been researching the Campaign and walking the battlefields since 1965 and can be considered as one of the top “field experts” on Gallipoli. He is the co-author of two highly interesting works on Gallipoli. One of them is available in English.

Klaus Wolf, an officer in the Germany Army, had his first "encounters" with Gallipoli and its battlefields during his 4 year assignment with NATO in Turkey. It soon became a passion and resulted in a major work on the German involvment in the "Çanakkale Wars". His book "Gallipoli 1915" will be available in English in 2009.

"friends of Gallipoli" on Teketepe, with the Suvla Lake as a backdrop, f.l.t.r. : Michael Robson, Steven Chambers, Bill Sellars and Jonathan Saunders. Steven Chambers is the author of "Gully Ravine" and "Anzac" (battleground europe), Bill Sellars is an Australian journalist living in the peninsula. Michael and Jonathan are regular visitors.

Haluk Oral, a Professor of Mathematics, started collecting documents, objects and recollections related to the battle of Ariburnu (Anzac) some 20 years ago.
In December 2007 this passion resulted in the publication of the book "Gallipoli 1915 - through Turkish eyes”, his first major work on the Campaign. In this book he traces the stories of people on both sides starting from one of the objects or documents in his collection.

Jan Wositzky, an Australian storyteller and musician, came to Gallipoli in 2003 to perform a solo version of “Lest We Forget” (a show he performs frequently in Australia). He performed at Anzac Cove before the Dawn service for 8,000 people. For more details on this storyteller, musician & broadcaster go to Jan's website.

On 6th August 2007 a party of seven Australians arrived in Gallipoli -from the Western front- for the last leg of a "once in a lifetime" Pilgrimage.
Although most of them had never met before they have one thing in common : they all have a great interest in (and knowledge of) the Australian Light Horse units and are all active members of the forum of the same name.
If you have a question related to any of the Light Horse Regiments, do not hesitate to contact any of these enthousiasts at the Light Horse Forum.

Before starting a 6 day detailled visit of the Gallipoli battlefields, under the guidance of legendary Kenan Çelik they helt a small ceremony -very becoming- on 7th August at 4.30 am at the Nek.
They were joint at this very early hour by some of the local "Gallipolians".

left to right/front : Haluk Oral, Bill Sellars, Serpil Karacan Sellars, Kim Winter, Jef Pickerd and Tim Lycett.
left to right/back : Eric Goossens, Abdullah Ayer, Tuna Crookshanks, Wayne Saillard, Heather Ford, Sigrid Pickerd and Andrew Pittaway.

Jul Snelders researched the Gallipoli Campaign for 20 years and was one of the best-known battlefield experts. His first-hand and personally collected materials, including photographs and carefully constructed maps comprised a wealth of knowledge nurturing those thirsty for such information about Gallipoli and resulted in a website certainly worth a visit.