What was their involvement?
Landing and consolidation
The first Australians to land on the shores of Gallipoli were the 9th, 10th and 11th Divisions, made up of 1,500 men. This landing took place in the early hours, before daylight on 25 April 1915. The 12th division followed at the break of dawn. The objective was to capture the heights of the Sari Bair Range, press inward and cut off the Turkish forces moving down toward Cape Helles. Allied troops came to shore at Anzac Cove and were faced with difficult terrain, cliffs and Turkish machine gun and artillery fire. Small groups of soldiers pushed up and found protection amongst the cliffs, however by nightfall none of the objectives had been reached.
The initial landing phase took place between the 25th of April and 3rd May. It involved establishing supply bases, medical support, and headquarters, mainly along the shores of the beach and small areas immediately inland. 2,300 Australians were killed in this initial landing phase.
Battles for Krithia
The Anzacs' first official involvement was a small force in the 2nd and 3rd battles for the town of Krithia. These battles took place on 6th to 8th of May and then the 4th of June. The aim was for the British and French to advance north from their landing at Cape Helles and take the town of Krithia. Australian forces totalled 2,900 men. They advanced on Turkish trenches and faced a heavy enemy, for which they were not prepared. The attempts were a failure and 1,056 Australian casualties fell under the intense enemy fire.
Turkish Offensive
The Turkish forces then attacked the Anzac line in an attempt to draw the Anzacs back down to the beach. In the darkness of the early hours of the 19th of May thousands of Turks advanced. The Anzacs stood strong in their response to the attack: 42,000 Turks attacked the 17,000 strong Anzac forces. Turkish casualties were high with over 3,000 killed. The Australians forces lost 160 men and 468 wounded. An armistice was agreed to for the 24th of May, when both sides worked together to clear and bury the dead. This event was for many a turning point in Turkish and Anzac relations, as the men developed a respect for each other, as much as is possible in time of war, as they worked together for the fallen.
August Offensive
The Allied forces then planned a joint offensive as a strong assault to progress forward. The British were to land at Suvla Bay, whilst the Anzacs were to be involved in diversionary attacks at various places.
(1) Lone Pine. On the afternoon of the 6th of August Australian forces attacked at Lone Pine, named from the one pine tree that stood above the shrubbery. On the flat ground, with opposition trenches barely 100 metres apart the Anzacs advanced. Reaching the Turkish trenches they found that many had been roofed with pine logs and were difficult to penetrate. Many men ran to the second line of trenches and engaged in hand to hand combat. The Anzacs took and held their objective, with a casualty rate, however, of over 2,500 men.
(2) The Nek. In the early morning of the next day 4 waves of 150 Anzacs each were sent over the top on an advance on the Turks at The Nek, another small area of land. The Turkish defence was ready and each wave failed to advance. In all there were 372 Anzac casualties, 234 being deaths.
Evacuation
In the following months it became more evident that the stalemate could not be broken and any further attempts at advance would be met with a strong defence. Australia could not afford to sustain further seemingly pointless losses. The heat of summer ended and a bitter winter ensued with rain, snow and chilling winds. Troops began to suffer from exposure and frostbite. The decision was made that the troops were to be withdrawn. The Anzacs evacuated in December, the last men leaving on 20th of December 1915. The Anzacs had experienced their baptism. 8,709 of their comrades were to be left behind on a foreign shore, having been prepared to give their lives for their country, Empire and a cause they believed in.
The first Australians to land on the shores of Gallipoli were the 9th, 10th and 11th Divisions, made up of 1,500 men. This landing took place in the early hours, before daylight on 25 April 1915. The 12th division followed at the break of dawn. The objective was to capture the heights of the Sari Bair Range, press inward and cut off the Turkish forces moving down toward Cape Helles. Allied troops came to shore at Anzac Cove and were faced with difficult terrain, cliffs and Turkish machine gun and artillery fire. Small groups of soldiers pushed up and found protection amongst the cliffs, however by nightfall none of the objectives had been reached.
The initial landing phase took place between the 25th of April and 3rd May. It involved establishing supply bases, medical support, and headquarters, mainly along the shores of the beach and small areas immediately inland. 2,300 Australians were killed in this initial landing phase.
Battles for Krithia
The Anzacs' first official involvement was a small force in the 2nd and 3rd battles for the town of Krithia. These battles took place on 6th to 8th of May and then the 4th of June. The aim was for the British and French to advance north from their landing at Cape Helles and take the town of Krithia. Australian forces totalled 2,900 men. They advanced on Turkish trenches and faced a heavy enemy, for which they were not prepared. The attempts were a failure and 1,056 Australian casualties fell under the intense enemy fire.
Turkish Offensive
The Turkish forces then attacked the Anzac line in an attempt to draw the Anzacs back down to the beach. In the darkness of the early hours of the 19th of May thousands of Turks advanced. The Anzacs stood strong in their response to the attack: 42,000 Turks attacked the 17,000 strong Anzac forces. Turkish casualties were high with over 3,000 killed. The Australians forces lost 160 men and 468 wounded. An armistice was agreed to for the 24th of May, when both sides worked together to clear and bury the dead. This event was for many a turning point in Turkish and Anzac relations, as the men developed a respect for each other, as much as is possible in time of war, as they worked together for the fallen.
August Offensive
The Allied forces then planned a joint offensive as a strong assault to progress forward. The British were to land at Suvla Bay, whilst the Anzacs were to be involved in diversionary attacks at various places.
(1) Lone Pine. On the afternoon of the 6th of August Australian forces attacked at Lone Pine, named from the one pine tree that stood above the shrubbery. On the flat ground, with opposition trenches barely 100 metres apart the Anzacs advanced. Reaching the Turkish trenches they found that many had been roofed with pine logs and were difficult to penetrate. Many men ran to the second line of trenches and engaged in hand to hand combat. The Anzacs took and held their objective, with a casualty rate, however, of over 2,500 men.
(2) The Nek. In the early morning of the next day 4 waves of 150 Anzacs each were sent over the top on an advance on the Turks at The Nek, another small area of land. The Turkish defence was ready and each wave failed to advance. In all there were 372 Anzac casualties, 234 being deaths.
Evacuation
In the following months it became more evident that the stalemate could not be broken and any further attempts at advance would be met with a strong defence. Australia could not afford to sustain further seemingly pointless losses. The heat of summer ended and a bitter winter ensued with rain, snow and chilling winds. Troops began to suffer from exposure and frostbite. The decision was made that the troops were to be withdrawn. The Anzacs evacuated in December, the last men leaving on 20th of December 1915. The Anzacs had experienced their baptism. 8,709 of their comrades were to be left behind on a foreign shore, having been prepared to give their lives for their country, Empire and a cause they believed in.