Place Names

This page lists information on Gallipoli places.

Many of these places are also linked to a photograph on another page.

Click on the names below to go to information on the name,

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PLACE NAMES	TURKISH, OR OTHER NAMES	PLACE	DESCRIPTION
400 Plateau		Central Anzac sector.	Just above the 400 feet contour line on a map. It was the open flat space, which covered the area from Lone Pine across to the edge of Shrapnel Valley and up as far as Steele's Post.
	Achi Baba	Cape Helles sector.	A hill at Cape Helles, in the south of the Gallipoli Peninsula. It was never captured, even though it was a main target during the landings.
Alexandria		Egypt	A city and port in Egypt. The New Zealanders landed here when they first arrived. Many wounded were unloaded there on the way to hospitals in Egypt.
	Anafarta	Suvla Bay sector.	The Turkish name for the Suvla Bay area.
Anzac Cove		Central Anzac sector.	The small beach where the Anzacs landed by mistake. The northern end was called Ari Burnu. The Anzacs called the southern end Hell Spit. There was no Turkish name for this end of the beach.
Anzac Gully	Go to the top of the page	Central Anzac sector.	A rest valley in the central Anzac area, close to Anzac Cove. Lots of headquarters were there because it was close to the beach. It was also never quite safe as long-range rifle fire could hit it from Gaba Tepe in the south.
The Apex	Go to the bottom of the page	Central Anzac sector. High up on Rhododendron Ridge.	The Apex was a point on Rhododendron Ridge, close to the top of Chunuk Bair. Just below the Pinnacle. The Wellington Infantry Battalion came up this way to capture Chunuk Bair on 6/7/8 August.
	Ari Burnu	Central Anzac sector.	The Turkish name for the northern end of Anzac Cove. A cemetery is right on the end of this point.
Artillery Road		Central Anzac sector.	The road built by the Anzacs that runs south down the hill from Lone Pine to the beach area.
Baby 700	Kilic Bair	Central Anzac sector.	At the southern end of the Second Ridge. Nearby Battleship Hill was first called Big 700, as both hills were above the 700 feet line on the maps. Baby 700 was where many new Zealanders died on the very first morning as they tried to assist the Australians. This very important hill was never captured, despite many furious attacks.
Battleship Hill	Duztepe	Central Anzac sector.	The other name for Big 700. It got its new name from the battleships, which used to shell the slopes trying to hit the Turkish defenders.
Bauchop's Hill		Northern Anzac sector.	Right up at the top, or northern end of the Anzac area. Its name came from Lieutenant Colonel Bauchop of the Otago Mounted Rifles.
Big 700	Go to the top of the page	Central Anzac sector.	Another name for Battleship Hill.
The Big Sap, or The Great Sap.		Central Anzac sector.	A large communications trench running from Ari Burnu, north to No. 2 Outpost. The trench was started as soon as the Anzacs arrived so that they could get from one end of the sector to the other without getting hit by shrapnel or a sniper. It was steadily deepened, widened and lengthened until it became large enough to be able to gallop a horse along it while delivering messages. It also enabled the New Zealanders to gather in safety when getting ready for the August attacks on Chunuk Bair.
Bloody Angle		Central Anzac sector.	A gully right at the end of Monash Gully where it ended beneath Deadman's Ridge and Quinn's Post. Different attacks were made up this gully trying to get to Baby 700. Many hundreds of men, perhaps thousands, counting the Turks, died in this small area. It was so dangerous it was only held by patrols at night.
Brighton Beach	Brighton Beach	Central Anzac sector.	A flat beach area where the Anzacs were supposed to land. Named after Brighton in England.
Cairo	Go to the top of the page	Egypt	The large capital city of Egypt. The New Zealanders were camped outside of Cairo during the training before going on to Gallipoli. Many men were sent to Cairo for hospital treatment.
	Canakkale	Dardanelles Straits, eastern side.	The largest town in the whole Dardanelles Straits area. It has two forts close to it. One on each side of the Straits.
	Canakkale Bogazi	Dardanelles Straits	The Turkish name for the whole area of the Dardanelles, the Straits and the Peninsula.
Canterbury Gully		Central Anzac sector.	Usually known as Rest Gully. Off Shrapnel Valley. The Canterbury men rested here after duty at Quinn's Post.
Canterbury Ridge		Northern Anzac sector.	Another name sometimes given to Rhododendron Ridge.
The Chessboard	Go to the top of the page	Central Anzac sector.	A small area, close to The Nek, which overlooked Quinn's Post. Courtney's Post covered it in turn. The name came from the Turkish trenches on it being laid out like a chessboard.
Chocolate Hills		Suvla Bay sector.	A group of small hills just south of the Salt Lake at Suvla Bay. The soil was a brownish red colour.
	Chunuk Bair	Northern Anzac sector.	A very important hill dominating the whole northern sector. Approximately 250 metres high, all ridges led up towards it. The Wellington Battalion captured it in the attack on 6,7,8,9,10 August, but could not hold it. The hill dominated the view south and north along the length of the central Anzac sector. From here the Turks were able to direct their defences, watch what the Anzacs were doing and prepare to meet it. The main New Zealand Memorial is on this hill, right alongside that of a Turkish statue of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. It seems rather appropriate that the two memorials are there right beside each other. Colonel Malone of the Wellington Battalion died just here and is buried in the cemetery at the top.
Constantinople or Istanbul		Turkey	The capital city of Turkey at that time. This was where the British Navy wanted to get to so they could shell the city and try to get Turkey to withdraw from the war. Today the city is called Istanbul.
Courtney's Post		Central Anzac sector.	Between Quinn's and Steele's Posts. Another of the extremely dangerous places guarding the head of Shrapnel Valley.
The Daisy Patch		Cape Helles sector.	The flat open field covered with flowers, which the New Zealanders tried to cross on 8 May 1915. They were mown down by machine guns. The New Zealanders never even saw where the bullets were coming from.
The Dardanelles	Canakkale Bogazi	Gallipoli	The narrow waterway between the Gallipoli Peninsula on the west, and the Turkish mainland on the eastern side.
The Farm	Sari Tarla	Northern Anzac sector.	A small plateau just below the summit of Chunuk Bair. It was the site of very fierce fighting during the August attempt to capture Chunuk Bair. The New Zealanders held it for a while, but it was then lost again to the Turks, never to be recovered.
Fisherman's Hut	Go to the top of the page	Northern Anzac sector.	Right at the northern end of where the soldiers tried to land on 25 April. Very heavy machine gun fire from here killed many men even before they got to shore.
	Gaba Tepe	Southern Anzac sector.	The name of a small cape poking out into the sea. The 25 April landing was originally called the Gaba Tepe landing, after the Cape. It was never captured, despite strong attacks by the Australians. From this point the Turks could get some rifle and gunfire into the back corners of Shrapnel Valley.
Gallipoli	Gelibolu	Gallipoli town.	The correct Turkish name of the small fishing village giving its name to the Peninsula. It was the Headquarters place for the German commander of the whole Turkish defence, Liman von Sanders. Gelibolu has been turned into Gallipoli. Now a busy fishing and ferry crossing town.
Gun Ridge	Third Ridge	Central Anzac sector.	Further away from the sea than the other two ridges, it was never captured. It got its name from the Turks placing much of their artillery behind the ridge and firing onto the Anzacs. Placing the guns behind the ridge also made it hard for the Anzacs to be able to find and destroy the Turkish guns using their own artillery or British Navy guns.
Hell Spit		Central Anzac sector.	The southern point of Anzac Cove. The Turkish gunners on Gaba Tepe used it as a marking spot for their guns. The way it poked out into the sea, the land luckily did actually give a little bit of protection to Anzac Cove from that southerly direction.
Hill 971	Kocacimentepe	Northern Anzac sector.	The highest point of the Sari Bair Range of hills. At 971 feet high (320 metres approximately), it was a greatly important hill to capture. It is right alongside Chunuk Bair. It was never taken.
Hill Q	Abdul Yere	Northern Anzac sector.	The third of the hills at the peak of the Sari Bair range. Chunuk Bair, Hill 971 and Hill Q were the key to success. Some Indian troops managed to get almost to the top but were driven back when the British Navy opened fire on the hilltop thinking the Indians were Turkish troops. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk realised on the first morning that whoever held these hills would win the battle.
Johnston's Jolly	Kirmizi Sirt	Central Anzac sector.	A small spot just to the north of Lone Pine. It was named after an Australian artillery officer who said that; "His guns would give the Turks a bit of a jolly-up".
	Krithia or Alcitepe	Cape Helles sector.	A small village approximately 10 km inland from Cape Helles beach. It was the target of many attempts to capture it. It was never taken.
Lone Pine	Kanli Sirt	Central Anzac sector.	At the southern end of the 400 Plateau, it took its name from a single pine tree there at the beginning of the campaign. This is the site of the main Australian Memorial. Fighting here was very fierce on many occasions. The Australians captured the site after 3 days of savage fighting during the August attacks. There were 7 Victoria Crosses awarded to the Australians from that action alone.
Lemnos Island	Go to the top of the page	A Greek island close to the shores of the Gallipoli Peninsula.	An island belonging to Greece. It is close to the Gallipoli Peninsula (just an overnight sail away) and was used first as a staging place on the way to Gallipoli. The whole fleet gathered there before the attack on 25 April. It was also used as a hospital and resting place during the campaign. It had a very large and deep harbour, but no wharves or piers for unloading. It also had very little fresh water, so most water had to be brought from Egypt, 5 days sailing away.
Monash Gully		Central Anzac sector.	Shrapnel Valley splits in two near the end. The northern branch, which curves to the left, was called Monash Gully, after one of the Australians, Brigadier John Monash. On the top of the right-hand side of this steep gully was the cliff face on which the three very dangerous places of Quinn's, Courtney's and Steele's Posts were placed. The Australian commander, General Bridges was mortally wounded here by a sniper.
Mudros Harbour		Lemnos Island, Greece.	The very large harbour on Lemnos Island where the fleet gathered before the attack on 25 April. It had no wharves or piers. All loading had to be done by crane and small boats called 'lighters'.
The Narrows		The Narrows	The narrowest stretch of water in the Dardanelles Straits. The city of Canakkale is on the eastern side, while the small town of Kilid Bahr is on the western side. At this point the Dardanelles are only approximately 1 km across.
The Nek	Boyun	Central Anzac sector.	The small flat area of Russell's Top joined on to the lower part of Baby 700 by a small saddle, called The Nek. Some Australians had managed to get this far on 25 April, but were beaten back. About the same area as two or three tennis courts, it was the site of a suicidal attack by the Australians on 7 August in support of the attack on Chunuk Bair by the New Zealanders. 600 men set off and in just half an hour, 234 were killed and 138 wounded. The Nek was not captured.
North Beach		Northern Anzac sector.	The beach north of Ari Burnu going up as far as No. 2 Outpost. Sometimes also called Ocean Beach.
Outpost No. 1	Go to the top of the page	Northern Anzac sector.	Established by the New Zealanders, down at beach level and at the end of the ridge leading up to Baby 700. Sometimes known as the Maori Pa, as the Maori Contingent of 477 men who arrived in July were stationed there.
Outpost No. 2		Northern Anzac sector.	This was further north again from Outpost No.2. This was level with the small ridge leading up to Rhododendron Ridge. Turkish machine guns were placed here and on the landing on 25 April did terrible damage to the Anzac soldiers.
Old Outpost No. 3		Northern Anzac sector.	Established in May by the New Zealanders, but only held for 2 days. This was a little inland and slightly above Fisherman's Hut. It was retaken during the August attacks.
Outpost No. 3		Northern Anzac sector.	Set up when Old Outpost No. 3 was taken back by the Turks. It was a little north of Outpost No. 2
Plugge's Plateau		Central Anzac sector.	The flat, but quite steeply sloping land immediately above Anzac Cove. Once the Anzacs had landed and scaled the steep hill directly in front of them they were on Plugge's Plateau. It was named after the commander of the Auckland Infantry Battalion who made his headquarters on the slope. Along with Russell's Top, it made up the First Ridge.
Pope's Hill		Central Anzac sector.	The next point north on from Quinn's Post. Right at the end of Monash Gully. Named after an Australian commander, Colonel Pope.
Queensland Point		Central Anzac sector.	At the southern end of Anzac Cove, on Hell Spit. Named after the Queenslanders who landed at this end of the beach on 25 April. There is a cemetery here with dead from many different units after they had been to the casualty clearing station just nearby.
Quinn's Post	Bomba Sirt	Central Anzac sector.	The most northerly and dangerous of the 3 posts at the edge of the cliff above Monash Gully. The Turkish trenches were just a few metres away, and in some cases actually joined on to the Anzacs. Very thick walls of sandbags blocked them off. Men always dreaded their turn in this post. Conditions and safety were greatly improved by Colonel Malone of the Wellington Infantry Battalion, after he had put up wires to screen out Turkish bombs. The post was really just a series of trenches connected together.
Rhododendron Ridge		Northern Anzac sector.	The large ridge, or spur, running down from Chunuk Bair towards the sea. It was by coming up this ridge that the Wellington Infantry Battalion managed to finally capture Chunuk Bair on 8 August. They were unable to hold it and after 2 days were pushed back down some 300 metres to the point called The Apex. The Wellington Infantry Battalion started with 760 men, but ended with just 70.
Russell's Top		Central Anzac sector.	The flat area behind the Sphinx and the other cliff faces along the beach. Walker's ridge was the most usual way to get up to Russell's Top from the beach.
Salt Lake	Go to the top of the page	Suvla Bay sector.	In summer, a dried up lake bed. In winter the area fills up with water running off the surrounding hills and makes a salt lake. It could be seen clearly from any of the hills or slopes in the Anzac sector.
Sari Bair Range	Sari Bair	Central Anzac sector.	The Turkish name for the whole range of hills running up the middle of the Gallipoli Peninsula. All of the places are part of that range. Hill 971 was the highest point, Hill Q the second highest, with Chunuk Bair third. These three hill tops are all very close to each other and connected by a series of saddles.
Second Ridge		Central Anzac sector.	The line of hills from Hill 971 in the north, Hill Q, Chunuk Bair, Battleship Hill, Baby 700 and on down to the sea in the south. Capturing this line of hills was the main target on 25 April. None of these hills were ever captured and held.
Shrapnel Valley		Shrapnel Valley	The main route to the front line from the beach. It is very deep, with steep hills all around. Its name comes from the amount of shrapnel the Turks were able to explode there. Very many men were killed by sniper fire from the surrounding hills until sandbags walls were built. Men could then sprint from one cover to the next. Much later, a deep sap to give extra protection was dug along the bottom of the valley. Going up the valley from the beach, first on the left was Rest Gully, on the right was Bridges' Road and straight ahead, bearing left was Monash Gully. This was the way up to Steele's, Courtney's and Quinn's Posts.
Sniper's Nest		Northern Anzac sector.	A ridge running off Baby 700. Covered with scrub, it was perfect for Turkish snipers firing down on the beaches north of Ari Burnu.
The Sphinx	Cathedral Rock	Central Anzac sector.	The odd-shaped cliff face poking out beside Walker's Ridge. Immediately recognisable, it had many names during the early days following the landing. A Turkish sniper was hiding there and took heavy toll in the first few days, until he was located and shot.
Steele's Post	Go to the top of the page	Central Anzac sector.	The southern post of the dangerous three, Quinn's, Courtney's and Steele's, on the cliff edge at the end of Shrapnel Valley. Named after an Australian officer.
Suvla Bay		Suvla Bay sector.	Right at the northern end of the Dardanelles campaign area. A sharply curved natural bay, with Suvla Point at the northern side, and Nibrunesi Point at the southern side. The British New Army landed here in the dark on 6 August. This was to be part of the final attempt to break out from their trapped positions. This plan too failed, due to poor organisation and lack of leadership.
The Third Ridge	Topculuk Sirt	Central Anzac sector.	Further away from the sea than the other two ridges, it was never captured. It got its name from the Turks placing much of their artillery behind the ridge and firing onto the Anzacs. Placing the guns behind the ridge also made it hard for the Anzacs to be able to find and destroy the Turkish guns.
Twelve Tree Copse		Cape Helles sector.	The New Zealanders made a desperate and suicidal attack across the Daisy Patch on 8 May. They never saw where the bullets were coming from. 12 trees were in a little copse, and these have been replanted around the cemetery, which today has the same name.
V Beach		Cape Helles sector.	The beach beside the Seddul Bahr fort. This was the beach the British ran the old ship S.S. River Clyde aground on. The ship had 2000 men inside, but because of the machine-gun fire many of them were slaughtered before they even got onto the beach. A British pilot who flew over during the landing attempt noticed that the seas were red with blood for 50 yards, and that boats loaded with dead men were just drifting all about the place. It was not until night time that the men could land in relative safety and set about capturing the old fort.
W Beach	Teke Koyu	Cape Helles sector.	The second of the main landing beaches at Cape Helles on 25 April. This landing was again very difficult, but more successful than the one at V Beach.
W Hills		Suvla Bay sector.	Hills at the northern end of the Sari Bair Range as they sweep down to the flat. They were one of the objectives of the British when they landed at Suvla Bay.
Walker's Ridge		Central Anzac sector.	A very narrow, steep ridge leading from the beach north of Ari Burnu and The Sphinx up to Russell's Top. After Shrapnel Valley, it was the other main way up to the firing lines.
Wellington Terraces		Central Anzac sector.	Very steep slopes on the side of the Sphinx. Named because the Wellington Regiment often had their resting camp there.
X Beach		Cape Helles sector.	A very easy landing but with a quite small group of soldiers. Poor planning and communication meant that as soon as they got ashore they sat down and made a cup of tea, while just over the hills the other British soldiers were having a terrible time. Eventually the Turks got themselves organised and made a furious counter attack, causing many unnecessary casualties amongst the British.
Y Beach		Cape Helles sector.	2000 British soldiers landed without any opposition. They too rested themselves. When the Turks counter attacked in the night the British were not ready, and again suffered many casualties.

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