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Recalling the infamous Gallipoli Campaign fought in Turkey during the First World War at the cost of some 58,000 allied soldiers, from Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. A further 87,000 Ottoman Turkish troops died fighting and at least 300,000 more on both sides were seriously wounded. The Gallipoli peninsula was thought to be an easy objective which would help break the deadlock on the Western Front. But early plans to take the area by sea power were frustrated by a clever defence and mobility of the Turkish army. Landing troops faced overwhelming firepower from the cliffs and were unable to make any headway. The campaign which began on February 17, 1915 ended in outright defeat and retreat for the allies on January 9, 1916. It is one of a small cluster of streets on the Goresbrook Village Estate which is named after First World War battles that involved the Essex Regiment, which later became the Royal Anglians, now the official regiment of Barking and Dagenham. Nearby is Ypres Place, Kemmel Road, Marne Road, and Krithia Road, a sixth road is named after a Second World War hero. Council leader Liam Smith, who announced the road names in 2013, said at the time: “We must never forget the sacrifice that others have made for their country and also the huge contributions and sacrifices made by Commonwealth and former British Empire troops. These street names will remain as a reminder to generations to come.” The Goresbrook Village scheme is part of the Barking & Dagenham’s estate renewal project, which also saw the Gascoigne, Leys and Althorne Way estates demolished and rebuilt. A total of 149 homes are built on the site, which was completed in 2015.
