On 25 April 2026, members and friends of the Gallipoli Association marked the 111th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings at ceremonies across the United Kingdom, in Australia and Greece, and on the peninsula itself. From the dawn service at Gallipoli to wreath-layings in London, Melbourne and beyond, the Association was represented throughout the day.

A message from our Patron

The Association received a message from our Patron, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

"Thank you for your kind message and I'm sorry I am unable to join you for your annual Gallipoli Day commemorations and remembrance, especially in this, the one hundred and eleventh anniversary of the landings. I send my very best wishes to all members of the Association and thank you for keeping the memory of all the units, ships and all those who served in them alive for the next generation."

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG, KT, GCVO
Patron

Gallipoli Peninsula

Stephen Chambers, the Association's historian and chairman-elect, represented the Gallipoli Association at the dawn service and at the Lone Pine commemoration on the peninsula.

Images from the Gallipoli dawn service at Anzac.

Stephen Chambers laying the Gallipoli Association wreath with Sergeant Ron Green BM ESM at the Lone Pine commemoration.

Stephen also paid his respects to several fallen men, including Lt-Col Richard Nelson Bendyshe, RMLI.

London

The Association's Chairman, James Stopford CBE, laid a wreath at the dawn service at Hyde Park Corner and represented the Association at the Gallipoli memorial service in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral before joining members at Westminster Abbey. The memorial at St Paul's was erected by the Association and unveiled on 28 November 1995 by the Association's past Patron, HRH Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh.

In exceptionally warm weather, 25 members marched at the Cenotaph, with a further six watching from outside the Foreign Office. The service was led by the Reverend Dr Lyndon Drake in the presence of HRH The Princess of Wales. The Association's President, Captain Christopher Fagan, laid the wreath. Afterwards, the majority headed to Westminster Abbey for the service of remembrance — 25 members received tickets through the Association's allocation, and several more obtained places through the ballot. The day ended with 30 members gathering for lunch at The Albert on Victoria Street.

St Paul's Cathedral and Cenotaph ceremonies. Photos courtesy of Lynda Ward, Andrew Taylor, Nigel Readman and Hester Huttenbach.

Melbourne

The newly formed Victorian Chapter of the Gallipoli Association held its second wreath-laying ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. Long-standing member David Kirton laid the wreath alongside state dignitaries and consular representatives. The Shrine was established in 1934 to honour Victorians who served in the First World War.

The Gallipoli Association wreath at the Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne. Photo (right) courtesy of Kate Kirton.

Lemnos, Greece

Ceremonies took place at East Mudros Cemetery and West Mudros Cemetery (Portianou), with wreath-laying, national anthems, and addresses from government and embassy representatives. The British Embassy was represented by the Military Attaché. Two Air Force aircraft performed low passes over East Mudros Cemetery in tribute.

Dimitris Boulotis, Deputy Mayor and GA member, laid the wreath on behalf of the Association. Students from the local school presented a project on the Gallipoli Campaign.

Photos courtesy of Dimitris Boulotis.

National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire

A ceremony commemorating the 111th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli took place at the National Memorial Arboretum with a service in the Chapel followed by wreath laying at the Gallipoli Memorial. The Gallipoli Association was represented by its Secretary, Margaret Carter.

From top, clockwise: Malcolm Harris, Margaret Carter and Captain Christopher Ducklin who read the poem 'The War to End All Wars' by Stanley Cooper; Margaret with Malcolm, a long-standing member of the GA; Margaret with Fusun Aramaz, Turkish Ambassador Consul General, who read the words of Atatürk, and Nadir Imamoglu, the designer of the Gallipoli Memorial, who spoke about the concept and meaning of the various elements of the memorial.

Scotland

Jim Duffy represented the Association at two services on 25 April: the dawn service at Glasgow Western Necropolis and the morning service at the Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh Castle. The Edinburgh service, held annually at 11:00, marks both Anzac Day and Gallipoli Day at the memorial within the castle walls.

The dawn service at Glasgow Western Necropolis. Photos courtesy of Jim Duffy.

Left: The service of remembrance at the Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh Castle. Right: GA wreath laid at Glasgow. Photos courtesy of Jim Duffy.

Edinburgh – dawn service at Comely Bank Cemetery

The Royal British Legion Scotland's Anzac Day dawn service at Comely Bank Cemetery drew one of its largest attendances in recent years. The service was conducted by the Reverend Dr Karen Campbell, National Chaplain of the Royal British Legion Scotland. Wreaths were laid by Rear Admiral Mark Beverstock, National President of the Royal British Legion Scotland and Poppy Scotland, Fiona Campbell of the New Zealand Society Scotland, and the Consul General of Turkey.

Twelve graves of Australian and New Zealand soldiers of the First World War, cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, were lit with candles. As each name was called, members of the congregation came forward to lay a poppy cross and a sprig of rosemary tied in the colours of Australia or New Zealand.

GA member Diana Thompson laid two personal wreaths — one in memory of her grandfather, Lieutenant Wilfred Edgar Macpherson Thompson, 6th Battalion Australian Imperial Force, and one in honour of Field Marshal Sir William Birdwood, first commander of the ANZACs at Gallipoli.

The dawn service at Comely Bank Cemetery, Edinburgh. Photos courtesy of Diana Thompson.

Northern Ireland – Ballance House, County Antrim

A short interdenominational service and wreath-laying took place at Ballance House, Glenavy, County Antrim, on Sunday 26 April, organised by the Ulster–New Zealand Trust to commemorate New Zealand and Irish soldiers who served in the Gallipoli Campaign. George Clarke laid a wreath on behalf of the Gallipoli Association.

The wreath-laying at Ballance House, County Antrim. Photos courtesy of Norman Briggs.

Eltham – Gallipoli Chapel memorial service

The annual Gallipoli Chapel memorial service took place at Holy Trinity Church, Eltham, on Sunday 26 April. The chapel was created by Henry Hall, who served as Army Chaplain to the 29th Division at Gallipoli. On his return to the parish, he converted the chapel in memory of all those who died or were wounded in the campaign. A memorial service has been held here every year since 1917, on the nearest Sunday to Anzac Day. The service was officiated by the Bishop of Woolwich.

The Gallipoli Chapel memorial service at Holy Trinity Church, Eltham. David Sleep laid the wreath on behalf of the Gallipoli Association. Photos courtesy of Francis Dickinson.

Sutton Veny

Around 100 people attended the annual Anzac Day service at St John's Church, Sutton Veny, on Sunday 26 April. The adjoining Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery is the resting place of 144 Australian personnel. The sermon was given by Bishop Andrew Rumsey, Bishop of Ramsbury.

The service at St John's Church, Sutton Veny. Bishop Andrew Rumsey pictured by the memorial (left). Photos courtesy of the Association's Chairman, James Stopford CBE.