ANKARA
The 100th anniversary of the "Canakkale Victory and Martyrs’ Day" was celebrated across the world Wednesday.
This poignant day of remembrance marks the cataclysmic, months-long violence of the Gallipoli Campaign when Ottoman forces suffered huge losses defending Turkish shores from the invading Allies in WWI on March 18, 1915.
The anniversary was celebrated in many countries, including England, Netherlands, Pakistan and Jerusalem.
In the U.K., the commemoration ceremony was held in Portsmouth city. Turkey’s ambassador to the U.K., Abdurrahman Bilgic, consul general, Emirhan Yorulmazlar, embassy officials, non-governmental organizations and scores of people attended the ceremony.
"The Canakkale victory is not just a heroic saga or a war. It is a life lesson that shows what a nation can achieve by standing shoulder-to-shoulder and heart-to-heart," Bilgic said at the ceremony.
Sadik Arslan, Turkey’s ambassador to Netherlands, said that the 100th anniversary of Canakkale was special for our people because of its significance in Turkish history.
A commemoration ceremony was also held in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, attended by Sadik Babur Girgin, Turkey's ambassador to Pakistan and General Rashad Mahmood, Pakistan Army's Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
"Pakistan's security is Turkey's security. We will stand by Turkey always," Mahmood said. Girgin also prayed for the martyrs of the Canakkale battle.
"Canakkale is really a heroic example in the history of world wars. Political history changed with Canakkale war," Turkish Consul-General in Jerusalem Mustafa Sarnic said at a ceremony.
Similar ceremonies were also held in Iraq, Azerbaijan, Egypt and Australia.
The events leading up to the momentous battle started in February 1915, when Britain and France decided to launch a military campaign to knock the Ottoman Empire out of the war as quickly as possible by reaching and capturing its capital, Istanbul. They started their attack on March 18, but the waters were filled with a network of mines by Ottoman vessels.
Victory against the allied forces gave Turkey a massive moral boost, which enabled it to wage a war of independence and to eventually form a republic in 1923 from the ashes of the old empire.
Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz, as well as Education Minister Nabi Avci and Youth and Sports Minister Akif Cagatay Kilic were present at Wednesday's main ceremony in Canakkale. Following the speeches, the Turkish Stars – the national aerobatics team of the Turkish Air Force – flew in formation while ships sailed behind one another.
