Gallipoli landing: 100 years on

This weekend marks one hundred years since the Gallipoli campaign of the First World War.

Tomorrow, on the eve of the anniversary, commemorations will take place on the beaches where British and allied troops landed.

As well as royalty and heads of government, fifteen people will be there to represent the British families involved in the campaign.

Two of them will be from Cumbria.

The Gallipoli campaign took place on 25 April 1915, when the war was deadlocked in western Europe.

Britain and her allies were to invade Turkey, one of Germany's key supporters, in an attempt to open a new and decisive front in the East.

The attack began with British and allied soldiers, including hundreds of men from regiments in Cumbria and southern Scotland, attempting a land invasion of the Gallipoli peninsula.

But the troops were met by far fiercer resistance than they'd expected, and they failed to make a significant breakthrough.

Today, it's regarded by many as one of the darkest episodes of World War One, with more than 130,000 soldiers from both sides losing their lives.

One of the men who landed that day was Ernest Boissier, a sub Lieutenant with the British Royal Naval Division.

He suffered terrible wounds but survived and was awarded the Military Cross.

His son, Roger, who lives at Armathwaite near Carlisle, will take part in this weekend's memorial ceremony.

He will read "The Dead" by war poet Rupert Brooke, who met his father on the way to Gallipoli but died from an infected mosquito bite before he arrived.

According to Roger, his father was never able forgot his experience at Gallipoli.

Also at the ceremony will be the great nephew of the naval commander at Gallipoli, Admiral Sir John de Robeck.

Richard de Robeck lives at Sebergham in Cumbria, and his father also fought in the campaign.

For both of the Cumbrian representatives there is a great sense of pride at being part of the commemorations.