The Gallipoli Association
THE GALLIPOLI ASSOCIATION AND ITS OBJECTIVES
Numerous veterans’ associations were formed in the years following the Great 1914-1918 War but surprisingly none existed for the Gallipoli campaign of 1915-16 until 1969, when on the initiative of Major Edgar Banner, a number of veterans established an informal group, meeting from time to time to exchange sh
ared memories and if possible to recall not only their own experiences but also those of the units in which they served. Very soon they had started their own Association Journal, ‘The Gallipolian’, initially cyclostyled but, as membership increased, a properly printed magazine, now published several times a year, in which articles of high historical, academic and literary merit appeared. Edited by Foster Summerson, it is regarded as exemplary in its class.
Inevitably, time took its toll of the original membership, but their descendants, and many professional and enthusiastic amateur military historians, began to swell the Association’s membership, contributing to the ‘Gallipolian’ a wealth of new aspects of that fascinating, 
inspirational, but ultimately tragic campaign. In 1995, when it was clear that the remaining veterans deserved a fitting gesture in their lifetime as well as a long overdue national tribute to those who had gone before them, the Association called for contributions to fund a lasting memorial in the crypt of St Paul’s cathedral, unveiled by our Patron, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in the presence of a great and distinguished congregation including what would be the last muster of the actual Gallipoli veterans. It is fitting that this memorial is mounted within a few paces of Lord Nelson’s great tomb and close to that of the Duke of Wellington.
Today the Association works hard to achieve its aims, summarised below and welcomes enquiries from members of the public who may have had relatives at Gallipoli.
Membership of the Association continues to grow, has passed the 1200 mark and is worldwide. Strong links have been established with official and other interest groups concerned with the campaign, notably in those countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France and Turkey, which participated significantly in the naval and land operations. The creation of this website in its new form will enable members to exchange information freely as well as to make enquiries 
concerning the participation of family members in this campaign. Visits to the old battlefields and the Dardanelles are run annually by the Association and Bursaries awarded to schools and colleges, enabling students to go there to study aspects of the campaign such as the deeds of former pupils of their school or college or members of their own families. Details are to be found in the ‘Gallipolian’ and on this site. Following these visits and the completion of their written reports, bursary winners are required to give presentations to an audience of their peers and of distinguished historians, which invariably attain a very high standard of research and delivery.
The aims of the Association can be summarised as follows:
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To keep alive the memory of the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915.
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To ensure that the men who fought and died in the campaign are not forgotten
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To encourage and facilitate the study of the campaign so that lasting benefit can be gained from its valuable lessons.
The Gallipoli Association. Committee Members:
Chairman: Captain Christopher T F Fagan DL
chairman@gallipoli-association.org
Secretary: Mr James Watson-Smith
secretary@gallipoli-association.org
Treasurer: Mr William Marsh
treasurer@gallipoli-association.org
Membership Secretary and Website News: Mr John Crowe
membershipsecretary@gallipoli-association.org
newsdesk@gallipoli-association.org
Gallipoli tours and bursaries : Major Hugh Jenner
tours@gallipoli-association.org
bursaries@gallipoli-association.org
Gallipolian Editor: Mr Foster Summerson
editor@gallipoli-association.org
Committee Members: Colonel Michael Hickey. Mr David Saunders. Colonel J Stopford.
Webmaster: Andy Crooks
webmaster@gallipoli-association.org
COPYRIGHT NOTICE:
Images used on this site are either personally owned, in the public domain or used with permission.
In particular we are grateful to the The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires) for permission to use a representation of the painting by Charles Dixon depicting the landing from the River Clyde at V beach on 25th April 1915 in the banner head on this website.