the landing
Even before the actual landing disaster struck and the campaign did not
proceed as proposed. In the previous month there had been another failed attempt
by French and British forces to penetrate the Dardanelles. This failure prompted
the decision to make a land attack. The problem was that the Turks had prior
knowledge that a land attack was imminent and they had prepared themselves
accordingly.
No one is exactly sure why on 25 April 1915, rather than landing at Cape Tepe
which was the ANZACs' scheduled landing spot, they set down two kilometres north
of their intended destination, in a place that was later to be called
Anzac Cove. It is speculated this error may have been the
result of any number of factors such as strong ocean currents, faulty navigation
by the naval officers in charge of the ships, miscalculations on the part of the
British and delays in the communication of changes of orders. See image 2,
see video
Although they were only a few kilometres away from their intended landing
place, the soldiers found themselves in territory which was the complete
opposite of what they had prepared for and had expected. Rather than a flat land
assault to the Dardanelles they were surrounded instead by steep, high, cliff
faces and incessant Turkish machine-gun fire. With uneven ground and nowhere to
find cover, the troops scattered, neglecting to stay in their units, thus making
themselves easy targets for the Turks who were quickly asserting their dominant
position from high up in the cliffs.
After their first day, the men had suffered 2300 casualties and had covered
only 900 metres. Despite this, the soldiers obeyed orders and held their
ground.
proceed as proposed. In the previous month there had been another failed attempt
by French and British forces to penetrate the Dardanelles. This failure prompted
the decision to make a land attack. The problem was that the Turks had prior
knowledge that a land attack was imminent and they had prepared themselves
accordingly.
No one is exactly sure why on 25 April 1915, rather than landing at Cape Tepe
which was the ANZACs' scheduled landing spot, they set down two kilometres north
of their intended destination, in a place that was later to be called
Anzac Cove. It is speculated this error may have been the
result of any number of factors such as strong ocean currents, faulty navigation
by the naval officers in charge of the ships, miscalculations on the part of the
British and delays in the communication of changes of orders. See image 2,
see video
Although they were only a few kilometres away from their intended landing
place, the soldiers found themselves in territory which was the complete
opposite of what they had prepared for and had expected. Rather than a flat land
assault to the Dardanelles they were surrounded instead by steep, high, cliff
faces and incessant Turkish machine-gun fire. With uneven ground and nowhere to
find cover, the troops scattered, neglecting to stay in their units, thus making
themselves easy targets for the Turks who were quickly asserting their dominant
position from high up in the cliffs.
After their first day, the men had suffered 2300 casualties and had covered
only 900 metres. Despite this, the soldiers obeyed orders and held their
ground.