109 years on, we remember them
‘Other arguments, irrefutable in their conclusions, convinced me that a complete evacuation was the only wise course to pursue.’ – General Sir Charles Monro (NLA)
These words were penned by General Sir Charles Monro, replacement Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, in his first and only Gallipoli Despatch.
General Monro estimated an evacuation could lead to a casualty rate of 30 to 40 per cent of the force – and an equal amount of war material.
Lord Kitchener, Britain’s Secretary of State for War initially disregarded with this advice. However, on 22 November 1915, after arriving via a small boat at the North Beach to witness the Anzac positions for himself, he agreed with evacuation.
The battle was lost. Both sides had sustained unthinkable losses. It was time to plan for the mass evacuation of more than 93,000 troops, 5,000 animals, 200 guns and a vast quantity of ammunition and stores.
Australian staff officers undertook elaborate precautions for a ‘sight unseen’ evacuation. Their strategy played out almost seamlessly; from the staged withdrawal of troops masked as preparation for a defensive winter campaign, to the quiet columns of mules carrying equipment.
Knowing the Turks would expect to hear the common sound of sporadic rifle and artillery fire, this was maintained as troops withdrew.
On 20 December 1915 at 4.00 am, the last boat left. Right until the end, the Anzacs believed that the Turks had remained unaware of the major evacuation that had taken place.
The Anzacs sustained only a minor number of casualties through the evacuation.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Read more on the remarkable Gallipoli evacuation story on DVA’s Anzac Portal.