“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).

As a hotel immersed in rich history, The 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 the 25th of April on ‘ANZAC Day’, the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.

The hotel warmly received Mr. Zinzan Brooke, a former New Zealand rugby union footballer and Mr. 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. The history of The Galle Face Hotel is an experience in its own right and it ensures a journey through time with delightful legends and stories. From providing world class hospitality to international icons and celebrities to being the preferred writing nook of best-selling authors, the hotel has been a global player in a bygone era,” said Mr. Antony Paton, General Manager – The Galle Face Hotel.

About the Galle Face Hotel: The Galle Face Hotel is an award winning heritage hotel located at the heart of Colombo, Sri Lanka, which is steeped in the unique history of Sri Lanka amidst tradition and family values. It is probably the only Hotel in the world which has a setting of a sea front city Hotel combined with the features of a beachside resort together grandeur and elegance of the bygone era of Sri Lanka. Celebrating 150 years, the Galle Face Hotel is one of the landmarks in Asia with a historical past that speaks of the historical significance of Sri Lanka.

Today, the Galle Face Hotel is acclaimed as one of the best heritage Hotels in Sri Lanka and in 2012 it became the first Hotel in the country to be featured on a postage stamp.

The old world charm of the Hotel harks back to a vintage when Aristocracy and celebrities spent their days in pampered luxury, and sipped their tea while enjoying the magnificent sunset over the Indian Ocean. Over the years, many Heads of State and celebrities have graced the Hotel, charmed by its eclectic mix of imperial tradition, architecture and flavor.

About the Galle Face Hotel Group: The Galle Face Hotel Group manages the hotel and leisure interest of Galle Face Hotel, Kandy Hotels PLC & Ceylon Hotels Corporation PLC.
Under this banner are 3 distinct portfolios of businesses.

The Deluxe Heritage Hotels Collection

Galle Face Hotel in Colombo & Hotel Suisse & Queens Hotel in Kandy.
Each hotel is a connected to Sri Lanka’s history, imbibed with the splendor of yesteryear while continuing to serve visitors, foreign and domestic is gracious surrounds.

The Resorts Collection

4 hotels routed in some of Sri Lanka’s most special areas offer a modern facility with outstanding vista & access to experience this great country.
The Lake Hotel Polonnaruwa, The Surf Hotel Bentota, The Safari Hotel Thissamaharama and The Lake House Polonnaruwa.

Each of these recently refurbished hotels offers traditional Sri Lankan hospitality to visitors.

Photo captions: (Top) Mr. Antony Paton (General Manager of the Galle Face Hotel), Ms. Mahika Chandrasena (Director Marketing Communications) with Mr. Zinzan Brooke and (Bottom) Mr. Robert Montgomery with Mr. Carlos Vizan (Director Operations at the Galle Face Hotel)