In 1915, the sandstone cliffs and azure Aegean bays of the Gallipoli Peninsula witnessed one of the most cataclysmic manoeuvres of the entire First World War. A combined force of over 500,000 British, French, Australian, New Zealander, Indian and Canadian troops attempted to seize the headland from the Ottoman divisions that were encamped there. It was hoped that the efforts would open up the tactical Dardanelles strait, and allow supplies to flow once more into Russia and the East. However, the attack was to go down as one of the hardest-fought in modern history, and the destruction that ensued is now etched into the annals of time. It was considered as one of the defining moments in the course of the 20^th century, one that gave rise to national psyches, shaped figures like the revered Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and inspired some of the most startling military monuments ever made.

Today, visitors to the site can enlist the help of a Gallipoli tour guide to give them insights on the three major battlefields that saw action. There is the Cape Helles with its Cannakale Martyrs Memorial and the iconic Lancashire Landing spot, where no fewer than six Victoria Crosses were clocked up in a single morning! Then head to the iconic ANZAC Beach, where it’s possible to see the Lone Pine Memorial and the lines of the Ottoman trenches that repelled the onslaught of Australian and New Zealander troops for several days.