Turkey pilgrims on the march
IT’S been 50 years since Chris Brown found a commemorative World War I medal while scouring the Townsville tip, but it’s still one of his most treasured possessions.
Mr Brown was 12 when he scavenged an old gramophone from the tip and while trying to restore it found the medal hidden under the turntable.
In his 20s, he discovered it was the Sydney Emden medal, which commemorated the sinking of the German cruiser SMS Emden by the HMAS Sydney in 1914.
The medals were made out of 1000 Mexican dollars seized from the ship and distributed to HMAS Sydney crew members, naval dignitaries and museums, with some sold to the public.
Medals given to crew members were typically engraved, but no engraving is on Mr Brown’s medal. However Mr Brown still believes the medal was owned by someone with a connection to the ship, given its unusual hiding place.
“It meant something to someone,” he said.
Mr Brown looked for the owner for years but eventually gave up.
He once tried to give the medal to a former HMAS Sydney crew member, but the offer was knocked back and the coin remains part of his personal collection of memorabilia.
Mr Brown said an Emden medal sold for $ 17,000 but he wouldn’t be tempted to sell his off.
“I won’t part with it,” he said.
“I had no idea at the time I found it, at that age, of the significance.” THE centenary pilgrimage to Gallipoli has begun, with thousands of Australians making their way to Turkey for the Anzac Day commemorations.
Among the travellers are descendants of original Anzacs, with many making the journey for the first time.
Fiona Hudson, 23, of Sydney, is making the journey with her father to remember her great- grandfather.
“It’s quite an experience to be having,” she said.
More than 10,500 ballotholders are expected to attend the dawn service at the Anzac Commemorative Site, which is slightly bigger than a rugby field.
Visitors will have to go through as many as six security checkpoints to enter the service, with 4000 Turkish troops expected to be on hand.
Authorities have not confirmed how many Australian Federal Police officers will be in attendance.
Security was light yesterday. with only a handful of Turkish military in the 33,000ha national park, mostly helping set up barriers.
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of Anzac, Senator Michael Ronaldson, said more than 42,000 Australians had applied for the 8120 passes issued.
Almost 400 Australians removed themselves after being successful in the ballot and almost 400 students and chaperones are attending.
More than half of the attendees are aged 45 and over, a marked difference from previous years when the typical visitor has been a 26- yearold female.
NSW has the highest number of representatives, with 2588 attending, followed by Queensland with 1727 and Victoria with 1461.
Dignitaries attending include Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and princes Charles and Harry.
Turkish president Recep Erdogan, after sending invitations to 77 world leaders for the dawn service, is no longer attending, sending another minister instead, Department of Veterans’ Affairs officials said.