ANZAC Cove, 6 km (3.75 miles) northwest of Kabatepe's Çanakkale Epic Presentation Center (map), was where Australian and New Zealand Army Corps troops landed in the early morning darkness of 25 April 1915.
Intending to land on the broad beach and easy rise of land at Kabatepe Feribot İskelesi 5 km (3 miles) to the south, instead the landing boats drifted north in the darkness, and the troops debarked onto a short (600 meters/2000 feet), narrow beach hemmed in by steep cliffs and hills.
The difficulty and danger of this unsuitable beachhead plagued the ANZAC forces throughout the campaign.
ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli: a poor beachhead...
Today ANZAC Cove (Anzak Koyu in Turkish) is quiet, with the occasional fishing boat passing along offshore. A small grassy field at the foot of Plugge's Plateau has been designated as the ANZAC Cove Commemorative Site, with a parking lot for the buses that bring visitors here on ANZAC Day.
A monument at the cove bears the words of Kemal Atatürk who, as a young Lieutenant-Colonel of Infantry, was instrumental in the success of the Ottoman defense of Gallipoli:
"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 far away 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."
—Atatürk, 1934
Tracks marked by signs lead from several shore points up the steep gullies and ravines to the ANZAC front lines at Lone Pine, Quinn's Post and Chunuk Bair (Conkbayırı).
The road from Kabatepe Feribot İskelesi to ANZAC Cove is two-way, and continues north to Suvla Bay.
—by Tom Brosnahan
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