Anyone who writes a history such as this is indebted to those who came before as well as contemporary colleagues and friends. Having said that, it would be impossible to approach any history of the Gallipoli experience at Anzac without continually turning to the writings of Charles Bean, not only his Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918 Volumes I and II, but also his other books and his correspondence with those who fought there, Commonwealth and Turk.
Anyone who has read my previous book on the landing, 25 April 1915, and my book on the August Offensive, Sorry lads, but the order is to go, will see some significant differences in my interpretation of these events since those earlier publications. The recent research and publications by Brigadier Chris Roberts, including his own book, The Landing at Anzac, 1915, have provided a detailed reassessment of the role of the 3rd Brigade and the delayed timing of the Turkish counter-attacks. This research has done much to change my interpretation of what happened that first day at Anzac. I must also thank Chris for reading an early draft of my chapters on the landing (as well as discussing the landing over numerous beers); his constructive criticisms have done much to correct numerous errors on my part. Thanks Chris! Another who has influenced my reassessment of the August Offensive (often with Chris and I over the odd beer) is Dr Rhys Crawley, who provided a sound reinterpretation of the offensive in terms of logistics. His own book, Climax at Gallipoli: The Failure of the August Offensive, clearly demonstrates that, had the heights been taken, it would have been impossible for the second phase of the offensive to be launched as the taking of the heights alone would have exhausted the logistical abilities of Hamilton’s force.
Others who have also helped and influenced the writing of this history over the years (and in many cases have allowed me to quote from their own books and publications) include in no particular order: Dr Peter Stanley, Dr A. Mete Tuncoku, Dr Haluk Oral, Kenan Celik, Professor Bademli, Peter Hart, Roger Lee, Harvey Broadbent, Professor Bill Gammage, Professor Robin Prior, Dr Robert Stevenson, Dr Nigel Steel, Dr Christopher Pugsley, Hugh Dolan, James Hurst, Peter Burness, Dr Michael McKernan, the late Ron Austin, Dr Peter Williams and Wes Olson. Like Chris and Rhys, their research and writings have done much to help me write this history and, needless to say, any errors are those of the author — they are mine alone.
In researching and writing this book I would also like to thank those men who published their battalion histories in the 1920s and 30s as well as those who put pen to paper in such journals as Reveille. It must be remembered that the writers in such journals were in many cases writing to their peers, which is a great ‘editorial’ mechanism and acts as a significant filter. They provide a wealth of material, some humorous, some very tragic.
Like all researchers I am indebted to those soldiers who not only kept a record of their experiences but also unselfishly donated their precious documents, writings and ‘curios’ to numerous research institutions for others to study. This also applies to relatives who have provided similar valuable records. For those numerous copyright holders I was unable to locate I trust that the material quoted meets with your approval.
I am especially indebted to the following for allowing to quote from either their books or private records: the Australian RSL for permission to quote material from their journal Reveille which contains real historical gold dust; Dr Margaret Heese, the daughter of the then Lance Corporal Cyril Lawrence, for allowing me to quote from her father’s diary; Mr Mark Derham QC, grandson of General Brudenell White, for allowing to quote from his grandfather’s writings; Ms Jan McCombe, relative of Brigadier Harold ‘Pompey’ Elliott, who also allowed me to quote from the brigadier’s correspondence; Kevin Clunie and Ron Austin for allowing me to quote from their book, From Gallipoli to Palestine, based on the wartime dairy of trooper Garry Clunie; Dr Glyn Harper for allowing me to quote from his book, Letters from Gallipoli; Dr Melanie Oppenheimer for allowing to quote from her book, Oceans of Love, based on the wartime letters and dairy of Nursing Sister Narrelle Hobbes; Greg Kerr for allowing to quote from his book, Lost Anzacs, and his grandfather, Corporal George Kerr’s war records; Penguin Books New Zealand for allowing me to quote from Private Cecil Malthus’ book, Anzac Retrospect; Barrie Margetts for allowing to quote from the private papers of his great-uncle, Lieutenant Ivor Margetts; Arthur Orchard for allowing me to quote from his father’s published diary; and Barry Greatorex for allowing to quote from the private papers and diary of his grandfather, Lieutenant James Joseph Greatorex; Mrs M. McPherson for allowing me to include a photograph of her grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander White of the 8th Australian Light Horse; Mrs Yvonne Riddiford, the daughter of Lieutenant Spencer Westmacott of the Auckland Battalion, who allowed me to copy and quote from her father’s detailed and fascinating diary.
I would like to thank the following institutions for supplying and/or permitting me to quote from material in their care: Alexander Turnbull Library, Auckland; Australian National Library; libraries at the Australian National University; the Australian Army History Unit Canberra, Australian War Memorial; the Army Museum, Perth; the Imperial War Museum, London; and the Kippenberger Military Archive, Army Museum Waiouru, New Zealand.
At Big Sky Publishing I would like to thank my publisher, Denny Neave, for taking on this book and my editor at Big Sky, Cathy McCullagh, along with the rest of the team at Big Sky.
Finally, I thank and dedicate this book to Debbie, Emma, Anita and Lloyd.
David Cameron
June 2014