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An exhibition marking the bitterly fought Gallipoli campaign of World War I has opened in Stornoway.

 

The Allies took on the Turks in an attempt to secure a shipping lane through the Dardanelles Strait - on the eastern side of the Mediterranean - to get supplies to Russia - then a British ally.

 

British and French troops plus Australian and New Zealand soldiers embarked on a major land invasion in April 1915.

 

The Ross Mountain Battery - mainly men from Lewis - were amongst the first unit ashore at Cape Helles on the Gallipoli Peninsula, on the north side of the seaway.

 

Many other islanders fought in other units in the campaign.

 

A number of commemorative events are being held throughout April.

 

The exhibition in the Stornoway Drill Hall in Church Street is open on 3-6pm Wednesdays and 11am to 4pm on Saturdays until the end of the month.

 

On display are some 500 photographs, documents, military uniforms and artefacts from the WW1 campaign.

 

The next event as part of the month’s commemoration programme, is the launch of Sheriff Mackenzie’s book “Gaels on Gallipoli”, in the Drill Hall on Friday at 7.30pm. Admission is free but donations may be made to armed forces charities.  

 

A Gaelic evening of WW1 songs, music and stories will be held in Stornoway Town Hall on Wednesday evening with artistes will perform from every parish in Lewis and Harris.  

Gallipoli remembered

10 April 2015