The Çanakkale Remembrance Platform has hired two buses to take community members free of charge to Brookwood Cemetery in Woking, Surrey, to participate in the annual prayer service on Turkish Martyrs Day. The service will take place at the gravesides of the 14 Turkish servicemen, who were killed during World War 2 and are now buried in a special plot in Britain.
The Turkish Air Force Burial Ground at Brookwood is next to Plot 1, which forms part of a much larger military burial area where the remains of soldiers from multiple nationalities are buried. Turkish Martyrs Day, held annually on 18th March, is an opportunity to remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. The actual date commemorates the Turks’ famous victory following the naval battle at Çanakkale/Gallipoli in 1915, which in turn marked the start of the Gallipoli Campaign that cost over half-a-million lives.
The Turkish Ambassador Abdurrahman Bilgiç and the Attaché for the Turkish Armed Services (TSK) will both give a short talk during the commemorations at Brookwood. All members of the British Turkish community are welcome to the prayer service.
People can make their own way to the cemetery, which is about 25 miles outside of London. Alternatively, they can book a place on one of two coaches from the capital to Surrey. One coach will leave from Manor House station in North London at 8.30am, the other will depart from outside the St. Laurence Community Centre in Catford, South London, at 9am. Both coaches will leave promptly and priority will be given to those who have reserved their seats. Following the service, coaches are expected to set off from Brookwood at 12.30pm, returning passengers to the morning departure point.
2016 Martyrs Day Remembrance Service
Visit: Turkish Air Force cemetery, Brookwood
Date: Friday 18 March 2016
Address: Turkish Air Force Burial Ground, Brookwood Cemetery, Cemetery Pales, Brookwood, Woking, Surrey GU24 0BL
Service starts: 11am
London buses depart: 7.15pm to 8.45pm
Coach fare: Free
Coach bookings: call or text for North London – 07788 908 803 / and South London – 07957 221924
Main photo: the Çanakkale Remembrance Platform (Çanakkale Anma Platformu) team at the 2015 Martyrs Day service at Brookwood / Facebook
