Tears for men she never knew

Whangarei Girls' High School student Rachel Boyd was at Gallipoli last week to take part in the Anzac Day commemorations there, her prize as the national winner of the ANZ RSA Cyril Bassett VC speech competition.

Three days before the commemorations she wrote the following, under the title 'Tears for our soldiers.'

Today we walked the very route our soldiers did 98 years ago, up to Chanuk Bair. I cried for men that I never knew, knelt at the graves of those men, merely boys of 17, and was filled with sorrow thinking that they were the same age as I, and had their lives taken so soon.

I stood on the beach of Anzac Cove and gazed over the dozens of memorial graves of those brave men that were caught short on that beach.

Once again we are reminded of how lovely the Turkish people are. When looking at some memorial monuments Mum was tapped on the shoulder by some Turkish women. Speaking not a trace of English, and Mum not an inkling of Turkish, they simply gestured to the tears on their cheeks and took her hands, and without spoken language they mourned together.

There was a beautiful statue depicting soldiers from every country that fought in WW1. It was inscribed, saying that we fought but are now all friends, welcomed and treasured equally in Turkey.

('Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives ... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours ... You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.' Ataturk 1934).

After a very moving battlefield tour we set off home and explored the little township some more. I stick out like a sore thumb. Apart from me there's not another blonde in sight, and I seem to be attracting a bit of attention.

The young Turkish girls follow me around giggling when I smile at them. The older women all want photos of us, and the men point and shy away, murmuring away to their friends. We wish we knew what they were saying! They are all so friendly and helpful, and I really love it here already.