By LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR IVEN MACKAY,
K.B.E., C.M.G., D.S.O., V.D., an officer of the
4th Battalion, A.I.F., on Gallipoli, and later G.O.C., 6tb Aust. Division
and G.O.C.-in-C. 2nd Aust. Army.
This little book with the attractive cover, illustrations and maps, tells in simple language a straightforward story of the Gallipoli campaign. The generation of Australians who participated in the campaign itself or shared in first-hand news of it, is rapidly diminishing and to the rising generation the deeds of their forebears in 1915 are now just pieces of history, only a little closer than the Battle of Hastings and William the Conqueror.
To these young Australians and New Zealanders this book offers an admirable opportunity to absorb the story so well-known to their fathers and mothers. They will be interested to know that amongst the thousands of sailors and soldiers who figured in the landing not all were grown ups, for there were many young midshipmen in the Naval boats and an unknown number of 15 to 18 year olds who had succeeded in enlisting by writing up their ages to 19 or 20.
- It may be of interest to know also, that every soldier who waded from the boats to the landing beach was carrying on his back a weight of arms, ammunition and rations, equivalent to that of a boy of five
stone (31.75 kilograms).
Some writers who tell the tale of Anzac give the impression that the only troops fighting against the Turks were Australians and New Zealanders, but Major Miles is careful to give due credit to all troops from other lands who took part, notably British, French and Indian. One other point that girls and boys should know is that the Turks were chivalrous opponents quite unlike some of our foes in World War 11 who were guilty of deeds of savagery and infamy.
The campaign in Gallipoli in 1915 did more than any previous happenings to make known to the world the potentialities of the two young countries, Australia and New Zealand. It also did much to make Australia better known to Australians themselves and to lower the earlier barriers between the States of the Commonwealth.
In his concluding chapter Major Miles rightly points out - "These Anzac soldiers were not supermen, they were much the same type of men as the average Australian and New Zealander is today." Perhaps, however,
they were above average in enterprise, courage and endurance and from these and other qualities was moulded the confident spirit of team work which led to whatever success they achieved.
Iven MACKAY |
