Turkish Filmmaker Sees Grief Knows No Sides

Newcastle Herald

Friday April 25, 2008

By JAMES JOYCE

MORE than two years after its Australian premiere in Scone's grand old cinema, the documentary Gallipoli: The Frontline Experience finally screens tonight on free-to-air TV.

It is magnificent storytelling: harrowing but deeply moving.

Turkish filmmaker Tolga Ornek combines archival footage, still photographs and re-enactments with voice-overs by Sam Neill and narration by Jeremy Irons.

The two-hour film strips the savage Gallipoli campaign of any romanticism as it recounts stories of carnage and courage through the diaries and letters of 10 soldiers on both sides, including Hunter brothers Oliver and Joseph Cumberland.

The siblings were among 500 Scone men who enlisted in World War I, about half the town's population at the time. A quarter never returned, including 18 lost at Gallipoli.

Joe, 21, signed up for his country. Oliver, 25, signed up for his brother, hoping to keep Joe out of harm's way. Both wrote often to their sister, Una Saunders, in Kelly Street, Scone.

Mrs Saunders had raised the brothers after their parents' death.

Dear Una,

I couldn't see Joe go alone and remain behind myself. I think it will be better now we are together.

I promise you I will never leave Joe wounded on the field whilst I have the strength to carry him off, and I know he will do the same for me.

Oliver. Cairo, Egypt. March 12 1915.

Their compelling letters are a central part of Gallipoli, their stoic words turning from innocence to grief.

The brothers landed on the shores of the Dardanelles with 8000 other Australian Imperial Force troops about 8am on April 25, 1915.

Joe, a firefighter, died on May 5 of wounds suffered during the landing.

Oliver wrote home with the news.

Dear Una,

I suppose you received my last letter in which I told you I was slightly wounded. I am quite well now and expect to go back to the front any time.

But Una, prepare yourself to hear the worst if you have not already heard it.

Poor Joe is gone. He died of wounds in Alexandria Hospital on the fifth of May.

When I saw the list I did not know what to do. I wandered about the streets nearly mad. I felt so lonely.

I am letting you know at once because I think it is always best to know the truth, however sad. He died for his country, Una.

I know how you will feel sister. God help you all to bear it.

Your affectionate brother, Oliver.

Oliver, a stockman, was also wounded during the Gallipoli landing. He returned to the front only to go missing during the battle of Lone Pine.

His date of death is recorded as August 8, 1915, though this would not be confirmed until seven years later when his identity disc was exhumed.

On July 26, 1915, 10 days before Lone Pine, Oliver penned his last letter home to Scone.

Dear Una,

I have been back in the firing line now for about six weeks, and still going strong and in the best of health.

You can understand, Una, that losing Joe has broken me up a bit. But Una it might be for the best.

War is a terrible game, especially this war, and those who are killed quick are sometimes better off.

I know it is useless to ask you not to worry about me, but remember I am used to roughing it and wars can end as suddenly as they start, and apart from the loss of poor Joe, I am keeping my spirits up fairly well.

Gallipoli screens at 7.30pm on SBS.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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