Descendants of veterans set to commemorate Gallipoli campaign

A special service commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign is set to take place near the site of the battle in Turkey next month.

The event, on the Gallipoli peninsula, will be attended by dignitaries along with descendants of more than half a million Allied servicemen who took part in the bloody attack.

A descendant of able bodied seaman Thomas Hartshorn will be at the service. Credit: Gallipoli Association

One of the descendants attending the service, Lyn Edmonds from Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire will trace the journey of her grandfather Private Benjamin Hurt who landed on April 25th.

She said it would "be a privilege" to commemorate the dead.

Lyn Edmonds will trace the journey of her grandfather Private Benjamin Hurt. Credit: Gallipoli Association
Lieutenant William John Symons served with the 7th Battalion Australian Imperial Forces. Credit: Gallipoli Association
Lieutenant-Commander Martin Nasmith won a Victoria Cross for his bravery. Credit: Gallipoli Association

The Gallipoli landings was one of the costliest phases of World War One as the Allies, including soldiers from Britain, Australia and New Zealand tried and failed to capture Constantinople and knock Turkey out of the war.

The operation started on April 25th 1915 but ended in stalemate a year later with hundreds of thousands of casualties.