What we do in life, Echoes through eternity

Thats a cheesy line from the film "Gladiator"... but its a good one.

I want to tell you a story.

Its a story that connects Turkey, Australia and Japan through one man's act of kindness and generosity.

In 1915 Allied forces, including Australian troops, attempted to invade Turkey.

This invasion is known as the Gallipoli Campaign, and you can read about it here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallipoli_Campaign

What is important is that the campaign was a terrible defeat, with about 10,000 Australians dead, and 20,000 wounded over a period of 9 months of brutal trench warfare. The invasion never really got off the beaches.

To put those numbers in perspective, Australia had a population of 5 million at the time, so per-capita, it was roughly equivalent to the entire war dead of the United States in WW2.

It was one of the first battles Australian troops had particpated in, and the shock ofl the defeat was terrible for the nation.

Every year, on January 26th, this battle is remembered as ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) day.

My own grandfather fought in this battle, so there is some personal connection for me in this story.

The Turkish side was commanded by a young Kemal Ataturk, who went on to be the founder of modern Turkey.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustafa_Kemal_Atatürk

In 1934, Kemal Ataturk wrote a letter which was published in Australian newspapers.

“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”

The letter was widely read and offered some relief to those who were still grieving.

For me, this letter represents a supreme act of kindness and generosity.

To this day, Turkish troops provide an honour guard for the war dead at Galipoli.

So, now the story skips ahead, to 1942, when 3 Japanese midget submarines attack Sydney Harbour.

The attack was not a success, sinking only 1 ship, killing 21 and wounding 10 people. All 3 midget submarines were lost.

2 of the midget submaries were immediately recovered, but the last one was not found until 2006.

A memorial service was held for the sailors of the last submarine:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2007/02/24/news/fallen-submariners-honored-in-australia

The Japanese Admiral attending the service said "I do not know of any nation that honours its enemies like this".

What he did not know was that it was Turkey's Kemal Ataturk that showed Australia this way of honour, 66 years earlier.