MARKING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE FOR CHUNUK BAIR NATIONAL COMMEMORATION PUKEAHU NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL PARK, WELLINGTON, 8 AUGUST 2015
Photo: Dawn on the Apex, 8 August 1915. W. A. Hampton Collection, National Army Museum Te Mata Toa, Waiouru.
NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST WORLD WAR WW100.govt.nz CENTENARY 2014-2019 THE BATTLE FOR CHUNUK BAIR
The achievement of New Zealand troops in seizing and holding Chunuk Bair against fierce Ottoman Turkish opposition on the 8th and 9th of August 1915 is an epic story of courage and determination. Like the overall Gallipoli campaign, however, it ultimately ended in a costly defeat.
The attack was part of the August Offensive, an attempt to capture the heights of the Sari Bair range and achieve a decisive breakthrough in the deadlocked campaign. The plan was complicated and ambitious: on the night of 6/7 August, while the Australians made a diversionary attack on Lone Pine, two columns made up of New Zealand, British and Indian troops would advance up the Sari Bair range and capture the three key high points of Chunuk Bair, Hill Q and Hill 971. Then, at dawn, these troops would attack Battleship Hill and Baby 700 from the rear while Australian troops attacked across The Nek from Russell’s Top.
The operation started well, as men of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade and the Maori Contingent successfully cleared a path through the vital foothills. But by the time the Mounted Rifles secured their objectives, the attack was already several hours behind schedule. From that point on, the plan began to fall apart. The assaulting columns, which included the New Zealand Infantry Brigade, lost their way in the darkness and rugged terrain. It was daylight before the New Zealanders reached their intended rendezvous on Rhododendron Spur, below Chunuk Bair.
At 10.30 a.m. the Auckland Battalion attacked Chunuk Bair, only to be cut down by Turkish fire. The commander of the Wellington Battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel William Malone, objected to a further daylight attack and insisted on waiting until night. Malone, a tough but respected commander from Taranaki who regularly put himself on the line for the welfare of his men, had emerged as one of the outstanding leaders at Gallipoli.
The Wellington Battalion, together with British troops, occupied Chunuk Bair before dawn on 8 August. With sunrise came a barrage of fire from Turks holding higher ground to the north. A desperate struggle to hold the exposed summit ensued. It was not until after dark that the Otago Battalion and the Wellington Mounted Rifles arrived to reinforce the 70 Wellington Battalion men (out of the original 760) who were still holding the line. Malone had been killed, probably by an Allied shell, at about 5 p.m. The New Zealanders were relieved on the night of 9/10 August by British battalions, but these were soon swept away by a massive counter-attack led by Mustafa Kemal (who was later to become the founding President of Turkey). The Sari Bair offensive had ended 2 in failure, and only resolute defence by the New Zealanders on Rhododendron Ridge prevented the Turks from advancing further.
A New Zealand memorial stands on the summit of Chunuk Bair. It commemorates 853 New Zealanders who have no known grave. ORDER OF SERVICE The Arrival
The Honourable Chris Finlayson QC, Attorney-General, the Honourable Maggie Barry ONZM, Minister for Arts, Culture & Heritage, and Aziz Sevi, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, arrive and are welcomed by:
Rear Admiral David Ledson ONZM (Rtd) Chair, National War Memorial Advisory Council
Paul James Chief Executive Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Lieutenant General Tim Keating MNZM Chief of Defence Force and Mrs Brenda Keating
The Official Party is escorted up the steps to the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior Karanga
Karanga by June Jackson MNZM, supported by Peter Jackson, Taranaki Whānui, as the Official Party proceeds up the steps to the Tomb Respects paid at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior
Whakamaharatanga, the Remembrance Bell, is tolled four times as members of the Official Party pay their respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior
The Official Party is then escorted back down the steps to the VIP seating area Introduction
Chaplain Class 1 Lance Lukin QHC OStJ JP Principal Defence Chaplain 3 Please stand Colour is marched on
The Guidon of Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles is marched on
Please be seated Welcome
The Honourable Maggie Barry ONZM Minister for Arts, Culture & Heritage Prologue
Rear Admiral David Ledson ONZM (Rtd) Chair, National War Memorial Advisory Council Address
The Honourable Chris Finlayson QC Attorney-General Choral Interlude
Chilton St James School Seraphim Choir performs Sons of Gallipoli by Father Chris Skinner Cyril Bassett Victoria Cross citation
Recited by George Barton, Wellington College (Wellington regional winner of 2015 RNZRSA Cyril Bassett VC Speech Competition) First reading
Colonel Bill Nathan (Rtd), formerly of the 7th Battalion, Wellington and Hawkes Bay Regiment, delivers a reading in recognition of the role of Maori troops at Chunuk Bair, in battle for the first time under the New Zealand flag
Excerpt from the diary of Rikihana Carkeek, Māori Contingent, Sunday 8 August 1915
Source: Home Little Māori Home: a memoir of the Māori Contingent, Rikihana Carkeek, Tōtika Publications, Wellington, 2003 4 Choral Interlude
Chilton St James School Seraphim Choir performs Po Atarau Second reading
Aziz Sevi, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, delivers the second reading
Excerpt from the book A Conversation with Anafartalar Commander Mustafa Kemal by Ruşen Eşref Ünaydin, published by the Turkish Ministry of Culture Call to Worship
Principal Defence Chaplain Lance Lukin Laying of Wreaths
Wreaths are laid by the following:
The Honourable Chris Finlayson QC Attorney-General on behalf of the Government and People of New Zealand
Grant Robertson MP on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition
Aziz Sevi Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Embassy of the Republic of Turkey on behalf of the Government and People of the Republic of Turkey
Her Excellency Dr Anne-Marie Schleich Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany on behalf of the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Germany
Her Excellency Zehra Akbari High Commissioner for Pakistan on behalf of the Government and People of Pakistan
His Excellency Jonathan Sinclair British High Commissioner on behalf of the Government and People of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland 5 His Excellency Mario Bot Canadian High Commissioner on behalf of the Government and People of Canada
Agnes Hamilton Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Embassy of France on behalf of the Government and People of France
Sandeep Sood Head of Chancery, High Commission of India on behalf of the Government and People of India
Group Captain John Davidson Defence Adviser, Australian High Commission on behalf of the Government and People of Australia
Celia Wade-Brown Her Worship the Mayor of Wellington on behalf of the City of Wellington
Lieutenant General Tim Keating MNZM Chief of Defence Force on behalf of the New Zealand Defence Force
Barry Clark QSM JP National President Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association
Hemaima Makere Rikihana together with Mari Margarita Kocamahhul representing the youth of New Zealand and Turkey
During the wreath laying the RNZAF Band will play reflective music
Please stand
6 National Anthems
The RNZAF Band plays the National Anthems of the Republic of Turkey and New Zealand
Istiklal Marsi
“Fear not! For the crimson flag that proudly waves in these dawns shall never fade, Before the last fiery hearth that is ablaze within my homeland burns out. And that is the star of my people, and it will forever shine; It is mine; and solely belongs to my nation.
Frown not, I beseech you, oh thou coy crescent! But smile upon my heroic nation! Why the anger, why the rage? Our blood that we shed for you will not be worthy otherwise; For freedom is the absolute right of my God-worshipping nation.”
God Defend New Zealand
“E Ihowā Atua, O ngā iwi mātou rā Āta whakarangona; Me aroha noa Kia hua ko te pai; Kia tau tō atawhai; Manaakitia mai Aotearoa”
“God of Nations at Thy feet, In the bonds of love we meet, Hear our voices, we entreat, God defend our free land Guard Pacific's triple star From the shafts of strife and war, Make her praises heard afar, God defend New Zealand”
7 THE COMMEMORATION Prayer
The Principal Defence Chaplain offers a final prayer Lament
We Will Remember Them is played by the Piper, Flight Sergeant Murray Mansfield RNZAF Firing party
Three volleys are fired during the playing by the RNZAF Band of the hymnAbide with me The Ode
Recited by Warrant Officer Class 1 Zac Davis RNZSIGS:
"E kore rātou e kaumaatuatia Pēnei i a tātou kua mahue nei E kore hoki rātou e ngoikore Ahakoa pēhea i ngā āhuatanga o te wā I te hekenga atu o te rā Tae noa ki te aranga mai i te ata Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou"
Response: "Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou"
Recited by Lieutenant Colonel Lisa Ferris NZALS:
"They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them"
Response: "We will remember them"
Please remain standing One minute's silence
8 Four New Zealand officers at the Apex near Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli, in late 1915. Wairarapa Archive, 08-165/1
9 The Last Post
The RNZAF Band plays Nightfall in Camp including The Last Post. All uniformed personnel salute
The flags of the Republic of Turkey and New Zealand are lowered for the day Colour is marched off
The Guidon of Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles is marched off Ceremony concludes
The Principal Defence Chaplain concludes the ceremony
The ADS (Advanced Dressing Station) of No 1 Field Ambulance in the gully of Chailek Dere between Table Top and Rhododendron Ridge, Gallipoli, 1915. Image courtesy of the New Zealand National Army Museum, accession number: 1992.760 10 The early days after the August Offensive, elements of 2nd Field Company, NZE, set up their bivvies at the foot of Hill 971 (Chunuk Bair) in Chailak Dere, Gallipoli. Image courtesy of the New Zealand National Army Museum, accession number: 1992.757
This National Commemorative Service was arranged by the Visits and Ceremonial Office, Department of Internal Affairs, in partnership with the WW100 Programme Office, Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Protocol Division), the New Zealand Defence Force, and the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association 11 MARKING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE FOR CHUNUK BAIR NATIONAL COMMEMORATION PUKEAHU NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL PARK, WELLINGTON, 8 AUGUST 2015
Photo: Dawn on the Apex, 8 August 1915. W. A. Hampton Collection, National Army Museum Te Mata Toa, Waiouru.
NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST WORLD WAR WW100.govt.nz CENTENARY 2014-2019