It was thought that we might hold Helles as we hold Gibraltar, but Mudros was considered an easier base for a naval power. The poor souls of the 29th Division, after being withdrawn from Suvla, hardly had time to rest a day at Mudros before they were ordered to return and hold the line at Helles. They were bitterly disappointed, but were they not tried and trusted Regulars? The Territorials they relieved went back to Egypt for a New Year's dinner in peace; the brigades of the 29th went back to the firing line. This perhaps was the greatest test of the 29th, for the men were sure that the bluff of Anzac and Suvla could not be repeated. They made ready for a heavy rearguard action to cover their retirement. During the days of waiting, it rained and blew until they were perhaps the most miserable men on earth. At least they should have been--but they were British regular soldiers, and there was nothing to do but stick it. So the troops who bore the brunt of the bloodiest landing were to bear the brunt of the evacuation. But a miracle again happened! The Turk could not make up his mind when we were going, and he could not make up his mind to attack. On the night of January 9, the coup came off. There was much heavy shelling of piers and landing places, but the casualties were infinitesimal, though much equipment was lost. The enemy was again baulked of his prey! [Illustration: [_Lent by Lieut. Lockyer, W.M.R._ THE WASTAGE OF WAR. Boots dumped on the wharf at Alexandria after the evacuation.] CHAPTER XVIII. [_The illustrations in this Chapter are by Col. Findlay, C.B. and Capt. Douglas Deans of the C.M.R._] The Return to Anzac. Three years in succession the valleys of Anzac were flooded with the crimson poppies of the Aegean Spring. During these three years the New Zealanders in France and Palestine shared in the vicissitudes and the dearly-bought victories of the Allied Armies. [Illustration: THE GREAT TURKISH VICTORY MONUMENT ON THE NEK.] While the soldiers were fighting, some of the politicians of England--a few of whom had been prominent in reducing Army and Navy expenditure before the war--enquired with great deliberation into the rights and wrongs of the Gallipoli campaign. Money that would have been better spent in hand grenades in 1915 was lavishly poured out in trying to discover who was to blame for this and who should be censured for that. It may be said with pride that the people of New Zealand--and the people of Australia, too--did not indulge in recrimination. They knew that the armies were not to blame, and were content to leave it at that. While commissions investigated ancient history the triumphant Turks erected great monuments on the Peninsula--monuments to commemorate the defeat of the infidels. * * * * *