ANZAC Cove
40°14′10″N 26°16′39″E / 40.23611°N 26.27750°E
Anzac Cove (
Gallipoli campaign, 1915–1916
The first objective for soldiers coming ashore in enemy-held territory was to establish a beachhead, a safe section of beach protected from enemy attack where supplies and extra troops could be safely brought ashore.
Anzac Cove was always within 1 kilometre (3,300 ft) of the front-line, well within the range of Turkish
The beach itself became an enormous supply dump and two field hospitals were established, one at either end. Four floating jetties were quickly constructed for the landing of stores, later replaced in July by a permanent structure known as "Watson's Pier". The volume of stores quickly overflowed onto the adjacent beaches; firstly onto Brighton Beach to the south of the cove and later onto North Beach beyond Arıburnu. Three wireless radio stations were established on the beach to maintain contact with the fleet.
While the cove was relatively sheltered from shellfire from across the peninsula, the Chanak forts, as well as the Turkish
Private Victor Laidlaw wrote of the dangers posed by Beachy Bill in his diary:
31.8.15 (31 August 1915) Today Beachey Bill killed a large number on the beach. This gun has now accounted for 2,000 casualties.
2.9.15 (2 September 1915) This morning I went down to medical comforts, after this went down with Harry to draw rations, had a swim at the same time. Just as we were coming out Beachey Bill opened fire with shrapnel, we all made a hurried exit for cover, but one poor beggar caught one right through the heart, and died immediately, he was a member of the 6th Battalion, such is the 'Irony of Fate', this lad was alive and well a minute ago, now he's dead, we took him away to the dugout where all men killed are put (they are usually buried the same day by a chaplain).[2]
Despite the shelling and Turkish snipers, Anzac Cove was a popular
Commemorations
On Anzac Day in 1985, the name "Anzac Cove" was officially recognised by the Turkish government.[3] The Anzac Day dawn service was held at Arıburnu Cemetery within the cove until 1999 when the number of people attending outgrew the site. A purpose-built "Anzac Commemorative Site" was constructed nearby on North Beach in time for the 2000 service.
Over the years, Anzac Cove beach has been degraded by erosion, and the construction of the coast road from Kabatepe to Suvla, originally started by Australian engineers just prior to the evacuation of Anzac in December 1915, resulted in the beach being further reduced and bounded by a steep earth embankment. The only way onto the beach was via the CWGC cemeteries at each headland, Arıburnu Cemetery, and Beach Cemetery.
In 2003 the
On 18 October 2005 the federal minister for veterans affairs,
Gallery
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North Beach looking toward Suvla
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Anzac commemorative site
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North Beach with "sphinx" rock in the background.
References
- ^ The British submarine HMS E11 sank the Barbaros Hayreddin in August
- ^ Laidlaw, Private Victor. "Diaries of Private Victor Rupert Laidlaw, 1914-1984 [manuscript]". State Library of Victoria. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ISSN 0313-5136.)
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: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link - ^ "It's a long way to Gallipoli, so create one here". National News. SMH. 2005-10-17.
External links
- Australian Light Horse Studies Centre – The Battle of Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, 25 April 1915 A comprehensive collection of all sources, both Allied and Turkish, including contemporary maps, regarding the landings around Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915.
- About Anzac Cove