Sunday Times 2
WWI documentary to feature Galle Face Hotel
View(s):“A week in the firing line today and thank God I am still alive”
Diary of a Gallipoli soldier
The Battle of Gallipoli -World War I (1914-1918).
Colombo’s historic Galle Face Hotel was proud to be a part of a television documentary to mark the upcoming centennial celebrations of the World War One Gallipoli campaign. The celebration will be held on April 25 on ‘ANZAC Day’, the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.
ZinZan Brooke (right) with Galle Face Hotel GM Antony Paton (left) and Director, Marketing Communications Mahika Chandrasena
The hotel welcomed Zinzan Brooke, a former New Zealand rugby union footballer and Robert Montgomery who will be featured in the documentary. Mr. Brooke and Mr. Montgomery are the grandchildren of two soldiers who sailed on one of the many troop carriers that anchored in Colombo en route to Turkey to fight with the Allied Forces against the Axis forces at the Battle of Gallipoli. It is documented that many of their fellow soldiers visited the hotel during their stop in Colombo.
“I take great pride in being a part of a building that has been through so many events in history and served guests from many walks of life. It is our responsibility to give the narrative of this hotel the respect it deserves,” said General Manager of the Galle Face Hotel Antony Paton,