Gallipoli 1915.... Least we Forget...

This morning Margaret and I visited Te Papa, our National Museum, to see the famous Gallipoli exhibition. While moving through the venue I felt a range of mixed emotions from tears of grief, anger at the futility of that horrific war, admiration for the courage and sacrifice of those who fought there and gratitude for the incredible work done by many to create this unique exhibition. To get a sense of scale of the larger than life models, Margaret is the tiny figure to the right in this image.
It shows a model of Lieutenant Colonel Dr Percival Fenwick who was in the first New Zealand boat to land at Gallipoli in 1915. The 45 year old surgeon’s despair is palpable as he leans over Jack Aitken knowing he has been unable to save the fatally wounded Canterbury Infantryman.