HMS Duncan In Çanakkale
22 Mar 2015 2 Comments
The last of the Type 45 class destroyers, HMS Duncan made a port visit in Çanakkale during the 18 March Naval Victory Commemorations. I do not know her exact arrival and departure dates but she was there on 17, 18 and 19 March.
She was commissioned in 2013 and left UK for her maiden deployment to the Mediterranean and Middle East on 2 March 2015.
turkishnavy.net 
To be honest, I have conflicting feeling on this. On one hand, it is a nice gesture for both sides to have a British ship paying respect on 100 th year anniversary of March 18th. One the other hand, it reminds too much of allied navy on March 18th, 1915. After all I had my grandfather fighting there.
I guess Ataturk was right:
“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 now here in this country of ours… you, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway 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 Australian frigate HMAS Anzac is on her way to Çanakkale for the 100th year anniversary of 25 April.