The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to the "heroism and humanity" of those who fought in Gallipoli, one of World War One's bloodiest campaigns, at a centenary ceremony in Turkey. Prince Charles and Prince Harry also met relatives of Gallipoli veterans. They joined leaders from Australia, New Zealand and Turkey - which all lost thousands of troops - at memorials. About 131,000 - made up of 45,000 Allied forces and 86,000 from Turkey - died in the campaign. The fatalities included about 25,000 British military personnel, 10,000 from France and 10,000 from Australia and New Zealand. The series of events in Turkey - to mark the 100th anniversary of the landings on the peninsula of Gallipoli - include an international ceremony and a Commonwealth and Irish commemoration. A separate service will also mark France's participation. Prince Charles and Prince Harry met 15 relatives of Gallipoli veterans on board HMS Bulwark, the Royal Navy's flagship. An international ceremony was then held in Abide, on the Gallipoli peninsula. Prince Charles told the ceremony that everyone has a "shared duty" to overcome intolerance and fight prejudice "so we can truly say we have honoured the sacrifice of all those who have fought and died here on the battlefield at Gallipoli and elsewhere." After a failed naval attack, the Allies tried to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul) via the Gallipoli Peninsula by land assault The amphibious assault started at dawn on 25 April, 1915 British, French and their dominions' troops - including soldiers from Australia, New Zealand, India and Newfoundland - took part They faced months of shelling, sniper fire and dysentery, before abandoning the campaign 45,000 Allied troops died for no material gain, although the Turkish Army was tied down for eight months 86,000 Turkish troops died. Commander Mustafa Kemal survived and went on to found modern Turkey Ben Goddard, 37, was there to honour his great-grandfather Pte Alfred William Goddard, of 2nd Hampshire Regiment, who landed on V Beach on 25 April 1915. He was hit on the elbow by shrapnel 11 days later, but survived the hostilities. Mr Goddard, from Ropley, Hampshire, said: "So many men fought and did not come back. That should be remembered, whether the campaign was a disaster or not." Hugh Gillespie, 72, from North Yorkshire, made the journey in memory of his grandfather, Lt Col Franklin Gillespie, who was killed by a sniper while leading a raid. "Our soldiers behaved so exceptionally and fought extremely well in difficult conditions. I think it is an object lesson in making sure the strategy is right in the first place," he said. The events will commemorate the World War One campaign when allied forces landed on the Gallipoli peninsula in modern-day western Turkey - then part of the Ottoman Empire - in April 1915. However, the invasion failed, with the Allied forces unable to advance more than a few miles inland. A bloody stalemate ensued which lasted until Allied troops evacuated the peninsula eight months later in January 1916. Events will continue in Turkey on Saturday with services to mark Anzac Day, which is widely marked in Australia and New Zealand. The centenary is expected to be the largest ever commemoration of the battle, with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and Prince Charles leading the ceremonies. Thousands of Australians, New Zealanders and Turks are also expected to make the journey to Gallipoli for the anniversary. In London, the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh - who is patron of the Gallipoli Association - and Prince William will be joined by senior government and military figures to lay wreaths at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

• published: 24 Apr 2015
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