Commonwealth War Graves Commission workers clean a cemetery on the Gallipoli peninsula following a large wildfire.
Photo: Supplied / Commonwealth War Graves Commission
At least two war cemeteries containing the remains of New Zealand soldiers were affected by a fire in Gallipoli, it has been confirmed.
The wildfire was one of a number of large blazes that damaged large swathes of Turkey last week.
At the time, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission said it would take some time to carry out a full-scale inspection of all the cemeteries across the peninsula, which number more than 30.
“Whilst there is extensive fire damage to the gardens, trees and horticulture in and around the cemeteries, it appears there has been no damage (other than superficial) to the headstones, graves and memorials which we look after.”
On Friday, the commission said it had begun “returning all of our sites to their previous state”, and was making “excellent progress”.
Photos released by the commission showed cleaning being undertaken at Canterbury Cemetery and the New Zealand No.2 Outpost Cemetery.
Twenty men from the New Zealand Mounted Rifles are buried at Canterbury Cemetery, while 29 New Zealand soldiers are buried at the No.2 Outpost.
In total, about one in six New Zealanders who landed on the peninsula during the 1915 Gallipoli campaign – 2779 people – died.
“Our teams have this week been busy carrying out a full cleaning operation to Canterbury Cemetery and the New Zealand No.2 Outpost Cemetery,” the commission said in an update on Friday.
“We have also been working hard today to assess, clean and clear the Embarkation Pier Cemetery.”
That cemetery holds the graves of 13 New Zealand soldiers, while a further 50 New Zealand soldiers with no known grave are listed on a memorial there.
“Surveying works have now been scheduled for all sites to help us fully assess the stonework and any further damage in remote sites which are more difficult to reach, such as The Farm Cemetery,” the commission said.
“These will be carried out as soon as it is safe to do so.”
The commission said it wanted the thank the fire service and local authorities for their continued support.