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War and Society
Sons of the Empire/Father of the Nation
During the First World War (1914-18), the year 1915 was significant for the nation-creation of Australia and Turkey, each allied to opposing sides - the Turks with Germany, and the Australians with Britain. Australia officially became a nation with Federation in 1901 but it was at Gallipoli, while showing its loyalty to its imperial parent, that it claimed an autonomous national identity. Although the Australians were untried troops facing determined Turkish soldiers and difficult terrain, they fought with tenacious bravery. The Turks, in turn, were valiantly defending their homeland against the forces of two of the world's mightiest Empires of the time, the British and the French.
When the war broke out in August 1914 the general belief was that it would be all over by Christmas. However fighting continued into early 1915 and the British believed that a second front would force a way through the Dardanelles Straits to the Black Sea, allowing the Russian Fleet access to the Mediterranean Sea. A naval attack on the Dardanelles began on 19 February and continued without success until 18 March, when it was abandoned. On 25 April Allied land attacks began on the beaches of the Gallipoli Peninsula, with the Australians and New Zealanders (ANZACs) landing at Helles and Gaba Tepe. The land campaign was also a failure and, eight months after it was launched, a successful evacuation was made.
The loss of life for all involved was enormous but out of the horror of Gallipoli two great reputations emerged. One was that of the Australian (and New Zealand) soldier, whose eager but doomed response to the Empire's call led King George V to declare: "The Australian and New Zealand troops have indeed proved themselves worthy sons of the Empire." The second was that of Mustapha Kemal, Turkish commander of the 9th Division, whose successful defence of Gaba Tepe won popular acclaim in Turkey. Kemal's reputation was cemented in 1924 when he became the first President of the Turkish Republic. In 1934 he adopted the title of Ataturk - "Father of the Nation".