Kenan Çelik, one of Turkey's leading experts on the Gallipoli Campaign of World War One, has been a guide to the battle- fields of the Gallipoli Peninsula for more than 25 years. In that time, Kenan has shared his knowledge of the events of 1915 with literally thousands of people from all walks of life. He has had the privilege of showing Gallipoli battlefields to Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, President Ziya of Pakistan; Dame Silvia Cartwright,the New Zealand Governor General; William Dean, the Australian Governor General and many other dignitaries as well as visitors from Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, India, Turkey, Ireland and Canada.

In 2000, Kenan was awarded the Order of Australia, that country’s highest civil honour, by the Australian government in recognition of his services to Australian history, becoming the first Turkish citizen to receive this award.

Since retiring as a lecturer in English language and literature at the Onsekiz Mart University in Çanakkale, Kenan has concentrated on leading tours over the battlefields and writing accounts of various aspects of the campaign. He has also appeared in a number of documentaries, including “Disaster at Gallipoli” and “Canakkale Son Kale”, detailing the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915.

Kenan studied at the Oregon State University under a Fulbright scholarship and has his MA in literature for his study of the works of the Edwardian poet Rupert Brooke.

Kenan holds the Turkish state’s certificate qualifying him as a guide for all sites in Turkey, though he concentrates on introducing visitors to the history of the Gallipoli battlefields, and the ancient cities of Troy and Assos.

Kenan showing Gallipoli battlefields to Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Mrs. Sezer.	Kenan talks to tourists at the ancient site of Troy.