2015 was a very exciting year for The Southport School Army Cadet Unit, and one of special significance in the year of the centenary of the ANZAC’s Gallipoli Campaign. The TSSACU, tracing its roots back to 1906, boasts a current strength of 310 cadets and 16 staff. In 2015 the Unit was led by Cadet Under Officer Liam Cass, supported by Cadet Warrant Officer Class One Cameron Kroon. Among the highlights of this memorable year were the inaugural Gallipoli Tour (to Turkey, France and England), the annual Cadet Camp at Hidden Creek and the annual Senior Graduation Parade and Dining-In Night.
the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Hippodrome, Topkapi Place and Roman Cistern, with many of the boys simply overwhelmed by the rich and complex history. Arriving in Canakkale, the tour explored the ancient city of Troy, navigating through the many layers that revealed 2000 years of occupation of the southwest corner of the Dardanelles. Several cities were built in succession and our guide pointed out areas that seemed to form part of Homer’s descriptions.
CONAN BLAND
Director of Cadets
GALLIPOLI TOUR
The Cadet tour overseas in the September holidays is worthy of detailed description here, so let me quote the report I wrote upon our return when my senses were filled with the wonder of our shared experiences. “…The sweet smell of apple tea wafted through the streets, mixed with the occasional wisp of hookah smoke as it danced it way past our walking group. We had arrived in Istanbul on the first day of our Gallipoli Tour. Expertly led by our charismatic guide Gokhan, 27 students, 17 parents and three TSS staff weaved their way through the busy footpaths, pausing occasionally as Gokhan highlighted points of interest.
Turkish delight of every colour and consistency, halva and other impossibly attractive sweets graced shopfronts, enticing the senses. Beautifully detailed mosaics adorning ancient buildings, Roman pillars and Egyptian obelisks seemed strangely to blend with a modern and vibrant city. We explored
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THE SOUTHPORT SCHOOL SOUTHPORTONIAN 2015
The day we approached Gallipoli the weather was overcast with rain threatening. The tour guide left the group free time to explore ANZAC Cove as we pleased, respecting the desire of each individual to wander and search for their own meaning in quiet contemplation. Many of the group dipped their feet in the water among the large, smooth stones and stared back up towards the craggy ridges, trying to imagine the impossibly difficult task our forefathers faced in storming that beachhead. We explored the complex series of battlefields throughout the day as the weather slowly broke and the skies saddened. No-one seemed to mind too much, with the weather acting as a catalyst for stirring feelings and evoking imagery. One of the main objectives of the tour was to visit the resting places of some of the 52 Old Boys who died in WWI. At Gallipoli we paid our respects to the graves of Hugh Quinn, Mervyn Collings, Rupert Goodchild and John Gordon Hides. The tour party encircled the grave as each Old Boy was honoured by a student with a short speech describing their time at TSS, their home and their short but meaningful life.
