World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Turkey -- Gallipoli Peninsula; World War, 1914-1918 -- New Zealand
The landing will be made good by the help of God and the Navy, the
positions will be stormed, and the war brought one step nearer to a
glorious close.
'Remember,' said Lord Kitchener, when bidding adieu to your commander,
'remember, once you set foot upon the Gallipoli Peninsula, you must
fight the thing through to a finish.' The whole world will be watching
your progress. Let us prove ourselves worthy of the great feat of arms
entrusted to us."
IAN HAMILTON, General.
Let it never be said that the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force held
its opponent cheaply. The seriousness of the situation was obvious,
but the troops were imbued with the fact that with proper backing
they could not fail, and whatever sacrifice should be demanded, that
sacrifice would be gladly made.
At 2 o'clock on the afternoon of April 24, there steamed from Mudros
Harbour that great armada, led by the "Queen Elizabeth," with Sir
Ian Hamilton on board. As the New Zealand transports rode at anchor
near the entrance, ship after ship passed out at a few cable lengths'
distance. The destroyers fussed and fumed about, while the battleships
steamed steadily on to take up their position for the early morning
bombardment. As each battleship, cruiser, transport and trawler slipped
past, great cheers were exchanged; then night came quietly on; lights
blinked and twinkled over the expanse of the great harbour; and a great
hush fell on the place until about midnight, when the New Zealand
ships lifted their anchors and picked their way through the minefields
towards the open sea.
CHAPTER VI.
The Anzac Landing.
Early on Sunday morning the intention of Army Headquarters was made
clear by the issue of orders for the attack. A study of the map
revealed three dominating land features. In the south, overlooking Cape
Helles, was the great hump of Achi Baba. Inland from Suvla Bay was
the tangled mass of cliffs, valleys and hills culminating in the peak
of the Sari Bair system, which, from its height marked in feet, was
afterwards known as "Hill 971." Lying further over near the Straits and
protecting the fortress on the European side, was the mountain system
known as the "Pasha Dagh" or Kilid Bahr Plateau. Both Achi Baba and
Hill 971 had to be captured before attempting the plateau, which latter
having fallen, we could take possession of the great fortresses of
Kilid Bahr, and Chanak on the opposite shore. These two places in our
hands, the passage of the fleet would be largely a matter of careful
mine sweeping.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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