The Graves of Gallipoli.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16419, 13 January 1919, Page 6

The Graves of Gallipoli.

Some further particulars of tho condition of the graves of tho Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fell in tho Gallipoli campaign, aro furnished by Mr Peacock, who has been with the official representatives of the War Graves Commision who are visiting the ,-peninsula. It is evident that tho Turkish authorities have signally failed to take any caro of the cemeteries or the isolated graves of our gallant soldiers. In some parts there has been no extensive disturbance of the graves, but in the advanced lines and in No-Man' many skeletons have been found. Generai.y speaking, there have "been many violations of the sanctity of the burial mounds, and altogether there is so much confusion that in a very great number of oases identification is impossible. A couple of weekp ago Mr Peacock reported of the very* first cemetery he visited' that it had no enclosure, and the graves were overgrown. All tho crosses of identification except one had been removed. Tho beach cemetery was enclosed, but all identifications except one had . gone. and there were no monuments or deoorations. Tho Shrapnel Gully cemetery was,'generally, speaking, in a good condition, but here again the identifications were missing. Captain Bigg Wither is reported to have said that the general condition of the graves ,is not so bad as had been feared, but it is quite apparent that much has to be done before a satisfactory condition of things has been established. Mr Peacock is still of the opinion ho formed after his first visit, that general monuments are more desirablo than individual headstones, because it is impossible to be sure in every case that individual headstones will be erected in their proper places. He suggests that national monuments bearing! the names of all the men killed should be erected, and the whole Ansae area kept sacred and inviolable under protection of a responsible body. Wo hope that our Government will not grudgo care or expense in taking every possible stop towards securing that the graves shall, be identified and tended, and that the memory of tho fallen shall be preserved in imperishable records of stono and metal. Tho' honour of New Zealand is concerned in this, for the soil upon which our soldiers fought so gallantly will be sacred soil henceforth, and it is indispensable that their last resting-places shall mark tho continuedl remembrance by their country of their sacrifices for it.