Helles Memorial

{{Short description|CWGC cemetery in Turkey}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}

{{Infobox military memorial

|name = Helles Memorial

|body = Commonwealth War Graves Commission

|image = 300px

|caption = The Helles Memorial from afar.

|commemorates = First World War missing, presumed dead from the Gallipoli campaign who have no known grave.

|unveiled = 1924

|coordinates = {{coord|40|2|45|N|26|10|45|E|type:landmark_region:TR_dim:75|display=inline,title}}

|nearest_town = Sedd el Bahr, Turkey

|designer = John James Burnet

|inscription =

|commemorated = 20885

|source={{cwgc cemetery|76100}}

}}

The Helles Memorial is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission war memorial near Sedd el Bahr, in Turkey, on the headland at the tip of the Gallipoli peninsula overlooking the Dardanelles. It includes an obelisk which is over {{convert|30|m|ft}} high.

The memorial is the main Commonwealth battle memorial for the whole Gallipoli campaign, and also commemorates the 20,956 Commonwealth servicemen with no known grave who died in the campaign in 1915–1916, during the First World War.

The United Kingdom and Indian forces named on the memorial died in operations throughout the peninsula, with main landings at Cape Helles and Suvla Bay, and the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps fought mainly at ANZAC Cove. There are also panels for those who died or were buried at sea in Gallipoli waters.

Other Commonwealth memorials to missing servicemen from the Gallipoli campaign include the Lone Pine Memorial, Hill 60 Memorial, Chunuk Bair Memorial, and Twelve Tree Copse Memorial. Naval casualties who were buried at sea are also commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth Naval Memorial and Chatham Naval Memorial in the UK.

French casualties are commemorated at the Morto Bay French Cemetery. The main Turkish memorial is the Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial.

Notable people commemorated

Among those commemorated at the Helles Memorial are five Victoria Cross recipients:[http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ggturkey.htm Burial locations of Victoria Cross Holders in Turkey]

Also four rugby union internationals:

  • Captain William Campbell Church (Scotland)[http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/697125/CHURCH,%20WILLIAM%20CAMPBELL CWGC Casualty Record, William Campbell Church]
  • Captain Arthur James Dingle (England)[http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/695210/DINGLE,%20ARTHUR%20JAMES CWGC Casualty Record, Arthur James Dingle]
  • Sergeant William Nanson (England)[http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/689171/NANSON,%20WILLIAM CWGC Casualty Record, William Nanson]
  • Captain Eric Templeton Young (Scotland)[http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1564448/YOUNG,%20ERIC%20TEMPLETON CWGC Casualty Record, Eric Templeton Young]

Two first-class cricketers:

  • Lieutenant James Sutcliffe[http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/3055173 CWGC Casualty Record, James Sutcliffe]
  • Acting Lieutenant Colonel Cecil Palmer{{cite web|url=https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/689654/cecil-howard-palmer/|title=Lieutenant Colonel Cecil Howard Palmer|website=www.cwgc.org|accessdate=12 April 2023}}

And a composer:

  • William Denis Browne{{CWGC|id=3054142|name=Sub Lieutenant William Denis Browne |access-date=18 August 2024}}

See also

References

{{commons category}}

{{Reflist}}

  • [https://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/76100/HELLES%20MEMORIAL Helles Memorial], Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20150901025214/http://gallipolitourguide.net/product/helles-memorial-tour-from-eceabat-canakkale/ Gallipoli Helles Memorial Tour]

Category:Commonwealth War Graves Commission memorials

Category:World War I memorials in Turkey

Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1924

Category:1924 establishments in Turkey

Category:Buildings and structures in Çanakkale Province