On 25 April 1915 Australian troops landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in what
is now called Anzac Cove. They rushed from the beach up to Plugge's Plateau and
into Australian military history, suffering many casualties on the way. Then,
just after midday, troops from New Zealand landed at Gallipoli, and together the
Australians and New Zealanders created the Anzac legend. The events on this
first day set the course of the whole battle, and led to the evacuation of the
Anzac troops in December 1915.
David Cameron's riveting, superbly researched account tells the Australian, New Zealand and Turkish sides of what was to become a tragedy for all three countries and ultimately a triumph for Turkey. Quotes from diaries and war records bring to life the drama and tragedy of war, as well as moments of camaraderie, humour and reflection. The details of this long, grim day are interspersed with accounts of Charles Bean's return to the peninsula in 1919 as part of the Australian Historical Mission to organise the burial of the dead that had been left to the elements for four years and the formation of the memorials that are today visited by thousands.
Contents:
List of Maps
Key to Maps
Turkish/English Placenames
Note to the Text
Acknowledgements
Preamble
Introduction: Historical Debates
Anzac 1919
1. Preparations
Part 1. The Landing
2. 'Some pieces have to be sacrificed to win the game'
3. 'Crack! Swish! Ping!
4. 'Imshee yalla you bastard!'
5. 'Well, if you can't walk you'll have to damn well crawl'
Anzac 1919
6. 'For goodness sake, please hurry!'
7. The firing which expected did not materialise'
8. 'Yet he was still able to swear gently'
Part 2. The Battle for the Ridges
9. I put two stripes on myself with a pencil'
10. '900 yards ... three rounds ... fire!'
11. 'Those who went to the flanks never returned'
Anzac 1919
12. 'What's the matter, laddie?'
13. His death affected me very much'
14. Heads down, arse up, and get stuck into it!'
Part 3. The Turkish Counterattack
15. 'Where's our bloody artillery?'
Anzac 1919
16. 'Now then 12th Battalion'
17. 'There was no rest, no lull, while the rotting dead lay all around us'
18. 'Together we hopped and stumbled, with our arms about one another's neck'
Part 4. Night
19. 'It was as though the band struck up all together, only out of tune!'
20. 'Those damn boys again, driving in the cows!'
Anzac 1919
Notes
Bibliography
Index
