Gallipoli

This brilliantly documented account of the First World War from the eyes of the Australian Armed Forces was at first difficult for me to comprehend. Presented with so much detail of maps of the combat areas , plus the detailed list of names and actions of the numerous ships of the Royal Navy that were involved from the very beginning, it required very careful scrutiny of every page. Peter Fitzsimons spares no one from the truth. The War Lords of 1915, including Churchill, are recorded in full, and the narrative exposes their failure to fully comprehend the difficulties presented by the position of Dardanelles and the Gallipoli Peninsula.
As one of many who grew up knowing great grandfathers and Uncles who fought in WW1,( some of whom had never returned, ) The ANZACS were all heroes to me. The early records of 300 odd Australians being dishonourably discharged as the result of individual gross behaviour does nothing for this image. They were not ANZACS as they never fought.
Numbers of those who lost their lives in this war were incredible. Add to this those who survived , but were never the same people again and the price of War is unbelievable. Mental health was not understood for these brave men who were part of a never-ending slaughter. One example of this was a young Hugo Throssell of the 10th Light Horse Brigade, who won a Victoria Cross for leading multiple attacks on the enemy even after being severely injured. He returned home but his brother didn’t. The poverty that resulted from his injuries later became so unbearable that he Committed Suicide. He had previously tried to sell his Victoria Cross but could only get a few shillings for it. To live with such a blow to his pride and all he had given his life and his brothers for ,was too much.
The information in this book covers many of those involved on both sides of the War and concludes with the reunion of some who fought on opposite sides. At the Anniversary of the Gallipoli Landing old enemies were seen crying in each other’s embrace. What does war really achieve?
Peter Fitzsimons book needs careful attention to all its content. While facts are recorded matter of factually there is always an underlying sympathy of all those involved in the bloody battle that was Gallipoli.