The Queen has led the nation in commemorating the sacrifices made by Australian and New Zealand forces during the Gallipoli Campaign of the First World War.

The tens of thousands who died and fought were remembered during a poignant ceremony staged at Whitehall's Cenotaph, and also attended by senior members of the royal family, Prime Minister David Cameron and top military figures.

The Queen was the first to lay a wreath at the iconic monument in memory of the Anzac (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) forces who stormed Turkish beaches in 1915.

The outdoor service was also attended by the Duke of Edinburgh, Duke of Cambridge, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Labour leader Ed Miliband and descendants of the troops who took part in the offensive.

The land campaign launched by Allied forces 100 years ago today on Turkey's Gallipoli peninsula was designed to be a decisive blow aimed at knocking the Turks out of the war.

But eight horror-filled months later, and at a cost to both sides of an estimated 145,000 lives, the Allies pulled out, having failed in their objective.

In the shadow of the Cenotaph those gathered listened as buglers from the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines sounded The Last Post a few moments after Big Ben tolled the last stroke of 11am.

The Queen and those around her stood motionless in quiet reflection as they observed two minutes' silence as London traffic rumbled by in neighbouring streets.

The head of state placed the first wreath near the base of the Cenotaph and she paused for a moment to bow her head before making her way back to her place.

Mr Cameron followed laying his own floral tribute as did a number of senior ministers and George Brandis, Australia's Attorney General, and David Carter MP, Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives.

During the service, the famous verse from Laurence Binyon's poem For The Fallen, which begins with the memorable line "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old'', was read by 22-year-old Michael Toohey.

Mr Toohey's great great uncle Private Thomas Toohey was serving with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers when he was killed in action during a Gallipoli landing at V Beach, Cape Helles on April 25 1915 aged 22.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people also attended a ceremony in Edinburgh to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael were among those who took part in the special service in memory of the Anzac (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) forces who stormed Turkish beaches in 1915.

Key representatives from all the countries affected by the campaign laid wreaths during the ceremony, which was held within the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh.

Ms Sturgeon said: "We must never forget those who fought and made the ultimate sacrifice in the Gallipoli campaign.

"Today's service of remembrance reminded us of the terrible impact the campaign had on all the nations involved.

"It is made more poignant by the fact that the nations on both sides now stand together to commemorate the fallen."

The service in Edinburgh was part of Legion Scotland's annual Anzac Day Service to honour the members who fought at Gallipoli.

Members of the public and veterans paid their respects by laying their own wreaths on the Esplanade at the replica Stone of Remembrance.

Kevin Gray MM, chief executive officer of Legion Scotland, said: "The Gallipoli campaign had a huge impact on Scotland, its centenary today was about paying tribute and ensuring we remember.

"Legion Scotland thank all those that joined them today for the commemoration.

"No matter where we come from it is important to come together and spend a little time to show our gratitude and respect for the sacrifices made by so many during this campaign and the many others that took place during WWI."

More than half a million Commonwealth and Irish soldiers fought during the eight-month long Gallipoli Campaign 400,000 from Britain, 15,000 from Ireland and 140,000 drawn from the modern nations of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Sri Lanka and the Indian sub-continent.

Almost 36,000 Commonwealth servicemen are buried or commemorated on Gallipoli, including nearly 25,000 members of British and Irish forces, over 7,200 of Australian units, more than 2,300 of New Zealand forces, and more than 1,500 members of the Indian Army.

Gallipoli was a defining moment in the history of Australia and New Zealand and helped to forge the nations' identities and create the "Anzac spirit" of endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour, and mateship.

The date the campaign began - April 25 - is commemorated every year as Anzac Day which has become a day when Aussies and Kiwis remember all their forces who have served and died.

Gallipoli has become a place of pilgrimage for young Antipodeans who want to trace the footsteps of relatives.

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Modern Turkey's founding father Ataturk who, through his inspiring leadership when a military commander, is credited with helping to defeat the Allied forces at Gallipoli wrote a famous message to bereaved foreign pilgrims who visit the scene of the fighting.

His words, inscribed at Anzac Cove where Australian and New Zealand troops landed in 1915, were read by Ecenur Bilgic, a 14-year-old schoolgirl from Turkey.

She said: "Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives ... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours ... "

Hymns were also sung, prayers said for the fallen and the national anthems of Australia, New Zealand and Turkey were played as the crowds, who numbered in their thousands, watched.

On the Gallipoli peninsula itself the Prince of Wales and Prince Harry are attending a number of commemoration events with world leaders and families of those who served.

At the end of the event, after the Queen and Philip had left to attend a Westminster Abbey Gallipoli service, there was a march past of military units from home and abroad whose forebears took part in the Gallipoli campaign.

Among the forces that paraded along Whitehall were members from the Fleet Air Arm, Royal Marines, Submarine Service, Royal Gurkha Rifles, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and The Mercian Regiment

While the Armed Forces of nations like New Zealand, Canada, Turkey, India, Germany and Ireland were also represented in the parade.

Earlier during a dawn service at London's Wellington Arch attended by thousands of Antipodeans, Sir Lockwood Smith, New Zealand's high commissioner, told the congregation: "One hundred years ago this very morning, the young soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps began landing on a narrow beach on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

"They were part of the Allied invasion of Turkey - the beach would become known as Anzac Cove, their sacrifice would become legend."

The service was staged midway between the Australian and New Zealand war memorials and Sir Lockwood added: "No family was left untouched. My own grandmother's first fiancee, the first real love of her life, Iies buried at Lone Pine - a Kiwi alongside his Australian mates.

"On those rugged heights above Anzac Cove, the young men of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps forged in blood the Anzac Legend, and in the process wrote the opening pages of a new national consciousness for both Australia and New Zealand.

"From the utmost ends of the earth they came, pioneers in a new world. 'Can't do' was not part of their language and their heroic deeds showed that courage, commitment and comradeship were. They were the flower of the youth of our new nations."

During the service at Wellington Arch the Princess Royal laid the first wreath and was followed by a number of dignitaries before the Last Post was sounded and two minutes' silence observed by all.

Philip spent the morning leading the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Gallipoli Memorial in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral.

Philip was joined by senior representatives of the nations which suffered the most serious losses in the campaign.

Among those who also left floral tributes were George Brandis, Australia's Attorney General, David Carter MP, Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives and Abdurrahman Bilgic, Turkey's Ambassador to the UK.

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The Queen and Philip joined the Prime Minister and other dignitaries at a Westminster Abbey service of commemoration and thanksgiving marking the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign.

The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster, said in his bidding: "The landing of allied forces at Gallipoli exactly one hundred years ago today led to one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War.

"Alongside forces from Britain and her allies, troops from Australia and New Zealand fought together as the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps: ANZAC.

"We honour today the courage of the men at Gallipoli.

"The memory of the Great War provides for us warning and encouragement.

"We are warned that war must involve terrible suffering and death. We are encouraged by the spirit of national pride and determination shown by those we remember this Anzac Day."

As the congregation sang the hymn 'O valiant hearts, who to your glory came' the national flags of Australia, New Zealand, Turkey and the UK were carried through the church and placed close to the high altar as a sign of reconciliation between old enemies.

The High Commissioners of Australia and New Zealand, Alexander Downer and Sir Lockwood Smith respectively, gave readings from the bible.

While Turkey's Ambassador Abdurrahman Bilgic read the famous message from Ataturk, his nation's founding father, to bereaved pilgrims who visit the Gallipoli battle sites.

Prayers were also said by young people from New Zealand and Australia and like many of the memorial events today the Last Post was sounded.