Exhibitions commemorate shared history of Indians and ANZACS

Two photographic exhibitions commemorating the role of India, Australia and New Zealand in World War I will be launched tomorrow at the Australian High Commission here. The exhibitions will be on till May 2.

The exhibitions pay tribute to the centenary of the Gallipoli Landings on April 25, 1915 - and 100 years of shared military co-operation between the three nations.

The Gallipoli Peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles Straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from a Greek word meaning "Beautiful City".

The brainchild of Australian war historian Peter Stanley and Squadron Leader (Retired) Rana T.S. Chhina from the United Services Institute, Indians and Anzacs depicts troops from all three countries in Gallipoli and other theatres of World War I.

The exhibition has been curated from photographs sourced from archives in Australia, New Zealand and India.

Developed by the Australian War Memorial, Camera on Gallipoli features 39 stunning photographs of the Gallipoli campaign as seen through the lens of Sir Charles Ryan, a famous Australian surgeon who served in World War I.

In his message ahead of the launching of the exhibitions, Australian High Commissioner to India Patrick Suckling said more than five thousand Indian soldiers were either killed or wounded during the Gallipoli campaign.

"Gallipoli and the ANZACs are at the absolute heart of our collective sense of national identity in both Australia and New Zealand, and India's important role in this campaign deserves a far greater audience," Suckling said.

New Zealand High Commissioner to India Grahame Morton said the exhibitions displayed the shared camaraderie between troops from India, Australia and New Zealand.

"New Zealanders, Indians and Australians were at the forefront of the Gallipoli landings, 100 years ago this year. These exhibitions commemorate the troops' collective efforts and sacrifice, and provide a poignant glimpse of the shared experiences and relationships that were forged on the battlefield," Morton said.

Squadron Leader (Retired) Chhina said India was honoured to be a part of the centenary commemoration of the landings that took place at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915.

"Gallipoli has come to symbolise more than just a military campaign. It is today recognised as forming a cornerstone of the national identities of Australia, New Zealand as well as modern Turkey," he said.

"However, it is not often realised that India too had a significant military presence at Gallipoli. We are delighted that in this centenary year, the valour and sacrifice of those Indian soldiers who fought and died in the Dardanelles campaign is finally being remembered and given due acknowledgement."

Australian Deputy High Commissioner to India Bernard Phillip told ANI, "It is an important time in the lives of Australians and new Zealanders as we come up tomorrow to the 100th anniversary of the landing of ANZAC forces in New Zealand, which took place on 25 of April, 1915. It is hard to overstate how important the ANZAC Day is and the landings at Gallipoli in the national consciousness of both Australia and New Zealand. It really is absolute heart of our national lives and culture; it is something that brings our two nations together."

"We are delighted that General (Retired) V K Singh, the minister and former army chief of India, will also be representing India at the commemorations in Turkey. We will be having commemorations here at the Delhi war cemetery also. It really does mark a special moment in Australia and New Zealand's history," he added.

"One of the less known elements of Gallipoli is that Indian forces were a vital part of the operation. In fact, apart from Australia and New Zealand, it was the Indian forces that landed at ANZAC Cove on that day of 25 April, 1915. They provided very strong artillery support and later went on to play a very significant and valued role in the campaign, both infantry forces and the logistic forces," Phillip said.

"Over the terrible months of the campaign a real camaraderie developed between the soldiers from the three countries. In Australian parlance, we can say that they became good mates and really came to value and respect the contribution that all three sides were able to bring to the fight. So, it really is wonderful to be able to commemorate India's role in this campaign," he said.

"We also recognize that India is looking to do more to commemorate its war history, including the development of the national war memorial. We are delighted that Prime Minister Modi, when he visited Australia in November, had the opportunity to visit the Australian War Memorial and to present a silver replica to the Australian War Memorial, which you can see here, and so we think that there is great opportunity for Australia, New Zealand and India to commemorate this shared history in the years ahead," the Australian Deputy High Commissioner said.

Colonel John Boswell of the New Zealand Army said, "All Australian and New Zealand servicemen and women are incredibly proud to be associated with the ANZAC story. We look at times that our forces, including your forces in Gallipoli endured incredible hardship, incredible danger and an outstanding story of camaraderie and commitment and of course courage."

"It is an incredibly poignant day for Australian and New Zealand servicemen, and one that we cherish within our national calendars, and we commemorate in an appropriate manner. Tomorrow, at the Delhi Cantonment Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery at 5.30 in the morning, there will be a dawn service. It is traditional that we hold our service at dawn, because, it commemorates the actual time of the landing that happened on the Gallipoli Peninsula," he added.

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"The service follows a traditional format; there will be addresses from the High Commissioners of Australia and New Zealand as well as the senior representatives from the Indian Government. We are honoured to have the attendance of the Chief of Army Staff (General Dalbir Singh) from India tomorrow. Wreaths will laid; we will sound the Last Post, and finally, reveling will be played, the service will conclude at about 7 o'clock, and then, we will move to the Australian High Commission for breakfast. So, Anzac Day has significance for both Australians and New Zealanders, but as a day of real significance for those of us still serving as a result of what our forces continue to do throughout the world in search of peace and stability," he concluded. (ANI)

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