One of the failed campaigns during World War 1 – and still debated by school debaters and Churchill students – is the Gallipoli disaster.

And when debaters meet to tackle whether Winston Churchill (knighted later) was, or was not, responsible for the carnage at Gallipoli, it provides fascinating and often heated engagement and the question has often left open with no definitive result.

As the First Lord of the Admiralty, Churchill was regarded as the scapegoat and the invasion was scuttled by incompetence and hesitancy by military commanders but, fairly or unfairly … Churchill is regarded as the scapegoat.

The Gallipoli disaster threw the government into crisis, and the Liberal prime minister was forced to bring the opposition Conservatives into a coalition government

The plan was to attack Gallipoli, a peninsula in the strategically important area of the Dardanelles near the Turkish capital of Constantinople (now Istanbul) and then move inland to capture the capital.

The Gallipoli campaign began with the Allied bombardment of Turkish defences on 17 February 1915, followed a few months later by the landings on the Gallipoli Peninsula early on 25 April.

The campaign lasted until January 1916 and was a costly failure for the Allies, with heavy losses – 44,000 dead – and no gains made.

And each year, Douglas Shire remembers the fallen at traditional ANZAC Day services on Monday 25 April 2022.

Representatives from the Royal Australian Navy will attend services in Port Douglas and Mossman.

Personal touch

This year also has a personal touch to it.

White crosses representing fallen Douglas soldiers will be placed at the Port Douglas cenotaph to mark the 107th Anniversary of the Anzac’s landing at Gallipoli.

Mossman State High School students will lay the 67 small timber crosses during Mossman RSL President Ron Savage’s reading of the fallen on Anzac Day this year.

The crosses were created and painted by volunteers from the Mossman Men’s Shed, with names etched into a plaque by local engraver Janet Goodall.

Mossman RSL Secretary Wally Gray, his wife Chris and fellow branch member Bryan Smith ensembled the crosses, placed a red poppy on each and dipped them in protective coating.

Names of fallen soldiers

Mr Gray said 66 crosses have names of fallen local soldiers, while one cross was unnamed to represent soldiers not recorded.

“Newell Beach Takeaway came up with the idea and donated funds towards the project which was very generous,” he said.

“By putting a protective coating on these, we hope to use every year and make it somewhat of a local ritual.

“I would like to encourage everyone to pay their respects at our local services this year and remember our fallen soldiers.”

The Daintree Ferry will be open at 4am on Anzac Day to accommodate ferry users wishing to attend dawn services.

HOW THE DOUGAS SHIRE WILL CELEBRATE ANZAC DAY:

Mossman

The 107th Anniversary of the Anzac’s landing at Gallipoli will start with a dawn service at the Mossman Cenotaph on Front St at 5.15am, with official proceedings from 5.25am.

Dignitaries from the Mossman RSL, the clergy, State Member for Cook Cynthia Lui and Douglas Shire Council will be present.

Port Douglas

In Port Douglas, people will meet at Port Village in Macrossan Street from 10am and begin the march towards the cenotaph at 10:15 am.

Official proceedings then commence at the cenotaph in ANZAC Park at 10:30 am.

ROAD CLOSURE: Corner of Wharf Street and Macrossan Street, and Macrossan Street from Grant Street to Wharf Street will be closed to traffic from 6am till 12pm with detours in place.

Cow Bay

People will meet at My Pathways car park (1475 Cape Tribulation Road) at 4:35am and march to the Cow Bay Cenotaph, Official proceedings begin at 5:00am.

Groups attending Anzac Day services:

School groups, community groups and sporting clubs are welcome to attend but we request that you be mindful of space at the cenotaph and the space required for each group.