NORTHWEST TURKEY — Officials and visitors from Australia, New Zealand and Turkey gathered in northwest Turkey on Saturday to commemorate the 111th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli. The ceremony began at 5:30 a.m. local time near a beach where the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps first landed at Gallipoli.

The hour-long event included hymns, prayers and the laying of wreaths by participants, who included representatives from many countries around the world.

"From great suffering, understanding can grow. From former enemies, friendships can blossom. The relationship between Turkey, Australia and New Zealand is built on remembrance, respect and recognition of our shared humanity," said Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Cindy Kiro during the opening address.

Turkish Col. Fatih Cansiz read from a tribute made in 1934 by Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk for the fallen during the ceremony. "Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side in this country of ours," Ataturk wrote in the tribute.

Ataturk first rose to prominence as commander of the Turkish forces at Gallipoli. He later led Turkey's War of Independence and founded the Turkish Republic.

The Gallipoli campaign was part of a British-led effort to defeat the Ottoman Empire. It aimed to secure a naval route from the Mediterranean Sea to Istanbul through the Dardanelles and remove the Ottoman Empire from the war. The campaign failed and resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides during the eight-month conflict.

The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps first landed at Gallipoli at dawn on April 25, 1915. The Battle of Gallipoli helped forge Australia and New Zealand's national identities and their friendship with Turkey.