LETTERS Disgusted of Gallipoli
Sir: Like Lord Bethell I was also present, together with several hundred other visitors from the United Kingdom, at Gallipoli on 25 April (`The great Australian lie', 6 May). In the light of what he has to say about the well-orchestrated campaign to teach the ris- ing generation of Australians a warped ver- sion of that campaign's history, I would like to make one or two further points.
For the past three years I have been engaged in writing a book about Gallipoli and the Dardanelles. Whilst researching in the admirable Australian War Memorial archives in Canberra I received much help from Australian friends, several of whom I have known since we served together in the Korean war. They made it clear to me that the vociferous claque which parrots the sentiments of Peter Weir's film does not represent anything near a majority view in their country and that there is still a sub- stantial body of belief which, whilst accept- ing that Australia has its own furrow to plough, cherishes the historic links and associations with the Crown.
It is therefore most unfortunate that our present government fails to support these friends of ours, three generations of whom shed their blood on behalf of the mother country. At Gallipoli on 25 April, there was an impressive Turkish military presence, backed by several warships anchored sym- bolically off those celebrated shores. There was a French frigate and an extremely well- turned-out guard of honour from her crew. The Australian and New Zealanders fur- nished strong marching detachments. Britain, whose casualties in 1915-16 far exceeded any of the other allies', produced half a dozen soldiers and airmen in camou- flaged combat dress. This, despite the Turks' evident wish to honour their former enemies and present allies, and the fact that three British frigates, to say nothing of an aircraft carrier, are currently stationed in the Adriatic. Our defence and naval attaches were clearly distressed and pro- foundly embarrassed by our pathetic show- ing, and although our defence minister, Mr Soames, spoke up well enough at the Helles memorial, the mood of the large British crowd was one of disgust. This snub, presumably on Foreign Office advice, will have left a very unpleasant impression on our many friends in Turkey; it will also be seen by the republicans of the Spartist per- suasion in Australia as tacit admission that it was indeed all our fault that we allowed the best of Australian and New Zealand manhood to lead the way into the breach.
Michael Hickey
Pipersmead, Springvale Avenue, Kings Worthy, Winchester, Hampshire
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