Fifteen descendants of veterans who took part in one of the bloodiest campaigns of 1915 followed in the footsteps of their forebears and attended the Centenary commemorative event in Turkey in April 2015.

The descendants are all members of the Gallipoli Association, which had been working with the government to ensure that fitting UK-led commemorative events are held this year, the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign. The commemoration in Turkey was a Commonwealth and Ireland Service, held on Friday 24 April 2015 at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Helles Memorial on the Gallipoli peninsula.

Captain Christopher Fagan, Chairman of the Gallipoli Association said: ‘It is a great honour for the Gallipoli Association to have been invited by the UK government to assist with this opportunity for British descendants to attend the service at Cape Helles'.

One of the descendants, Lyn Edmonds from Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire traced the journey of her grandfather Private Benjamin Hurt who landed on 25 April and, despite being wounded a few weeks later, he stayed to fight on until January 1916. Benjamin, from Derbyshire, had joined up at the age of 17 in 1909 and fought at Gallipoli with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Of the 1,012 members of his battalion who landed that April only 90 or so remained on the peninsula when the unit was withdrawn early the following year.

Mrs Edmonds said: ‘It will be a privilege and emotional experience to be there in April to remember my grandfather exactly 100 years later and on the very spot where he landed under fire. He was so fortunate to have survived the terrible campaign and I will naturally be thinking of his many friends who did not return.’

Above: Lyn Edmonds will trace the journey of her grandfather Private Benjamin Hurt (photo credit: Gallipoli Association)

Benjamin Hurt went on to fight in further bloody battles, including the Somme, and survived the war. He later married, raised a family and continued his army service until his retirement in 1933.

It is likely that Benjamin would have known Private Thomas Toohey who was one of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers killed on the 25 April. Jon Toohey from Sandhurst, Berkshire, Thomas’ great nephew is one of those chosen to take part in the trip and will visit Gallipoli for the first time to see where his great uncle died.

It is likely that Benjamin would have known Private Thomas Toohey who was one of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers killed on the 25 April. Jon Toohey from Sandhurst, Berkshire, Thomas’ great nephew is one of those chosen to take part in the trip and will visit Gallipoli for the first time to see where his great uncle died.

Above: A descendant of able bodied seaman Thomas Hartshorn was also at the service (photo credit: Gallipoli Association)

John Hartshorn from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, one of the descendants says, ‘My very existence is due to my great grandfather surviving from 29 April when he went ashore at Anzac Cove, to 22 August when dysentery finally got the better of him.’ John's great grandfather was Able Bodied Seaman Thomas Otto Hartshorn, Nelson Battalion, Royal Naval Division.

Two of the group are descended from Gallipoli veterans who were recipients of the VC, the highest British award for bravery in warfare, one being Sir James Dunbar-Nasmith, from Findhorn, Moray. His father was Lieutenant-Commander Martin Nasmith RN, who was awarded the VC in command of HM Submarine E11. He
led three patrols through the Dardanelles into the Sea of Marmara and Constantinople Harbour in the course of which he sank 97 Turkish ships including the Battleship Haradin Barbarossa, blew up a railway viaduct, and had an engagement with a troop of Turkish Cavalry on a cliff.

Left: Lieutenant-Commander Martin Nasmith won a Victoria Cross for his bravery (photo credit: Gallipoli Association)

Sarah Kellam, from Taunton, Somerset will be honouring her grandfather, Lieutenant William John Symons, who served with the 7th Battalion Australian Imperial Forces (ANZAC) and was awarded the VC for defending Jacob’s Post on his own in the thick of the fighting during the August offensive at the Battle of Lone Pine.

Below: Lieutenant William John Symons served with the 7th Battalion Australian Imperial Forces (photo credit: Gallipoli Association)

All 15 descendants have interesting stories to tell of their forebears and all are honoured to be able to attend the ceremony at Cape Helles, not only in memory of their relations, but also to recognise the many thousands of men from Britain and its Allies who fought and died in Gallipoli.

Descendants’ details

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has worked with the Gallipoli Association to offer this opportunity to fifteen of its members to attend the Commonwealth and Ireland Service on 24 April. Many members of the Gallipoli Association were interested in attending and the fifteen selected will be paying for their own travel to Turkey.

Relation to Lieutenant-Commander E.G. Boissier, RNVR Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division who was awarded a DSC 

Richard de Robeck

Great uncle was Admiral Sir John de Robeck 

Sir James Dunbar-Nasmith

Father was Lieutenant-Commander Martin Nasmith, RN who was awarded the VC

Lyn Edmonds

Grandfather was Private Benjamin Hurt, 1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Hugh Gillespie

Grandfather was Lieutenant Colonel F M Gillespie, 4th Battalion, South Wales Borderers

Ben Goddard

Great grandfather was Private Alfred William Goddard, 2nd Hampshire Regiment

John Hartshorn

Great grandfather was Able Bodied Seaman Thomas Otto Hartshorn, A Company, No.4 Platoon, 14 Section, Nelson Battalion, Royal Naval Division.

Dr William Henry

Grandfather was William Hewitt Private 2401 1st/7th Manchester Regiment.[TF] and Great Uncle was Henry Cronshaw Private 2807 1st/7th Lancashire Fusiliers

Sarah Kellam

Grandfather was Lieutenant William John Symons, 7th Battalion, Australian Imperial Forces (ANZAC) and was awarded the VC

David Jewkes Leighton

Father was Sergeant Arthur Jewkes Leighton, 8th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers and uncles were Private Henry Jewkes Leighton, 8th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers and Private David Roberts, Montgomery and Welsh Horse Yeomanry

Peter Luff

Grandfather was Frederick William Cutts, Royal Horse Artillery

Harry Mount

Great grandfather was Earl of Longford, Brigadier General, 2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade of the 2nd Mounted Division

Rosan Porter

Father was Richard Osbaldeston Spencer-Smith, a Captain in the Hampshire Regiment

Jon Toohey

Great uncle was Private Thomas Toohey, 1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Eric Wilkinson

Great uncle, was Fusilier John Wilkinson, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers