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Jack Castle-Burns THE Simpson PRIZE A COMPETITION FOR YEAR 9 AND 10 STUDENTS 2013 Winner Australian Capital Territory Jack Castle-Burns Marist College Canberra What does an investigation of primary sources reveal about the Gallipoli experience and to what extent does this explain the origins of the ANZAC Legend? Jack Castle-Burns Maris College Canberra 13 Battles can be defining points in a nation’s history. The Battle of Gallipoli is no exception to this and is celebrated as a fundamental aspect of Australia’s foundation. The ANZAC Legend is often considered to have originated at Gallipoli where soldiers acted valiantly, never gave up and supported their mates. Many of these aspects that we define as the ANZAC Legend were evinced in World War One and have endured for decades in all of Australia’s conflicts. Sources from Gallipoli, especially those of soldiers, narrate a story of a disorganised and horrific campaign with dramatic and often wasteful loss of life. Sources relate the hardships our ANZACs experienced while official reports and newspapers tell of an overwhelming victory. In all this, through the emotional struggles of soldiers and their amazing feats, the ANZAC Legend was born. Primary sources inform historians that the preparation for the landing of the ANZACs was inadequate and inaccurate. In planning the invasion military staff used a map based on surveys from 18541 that was essentially useless due to its age. From this map further maps were drawn on a smaller scale, which also included intelligence gained through aerial reconnaissance. However, in practice, the maps were highly inaccurate with soldiers reporting numerous geographical faults that led to misdirection upon invasion at Gallipoli2. Furthermore the maps, which were used for directing artillery, were later found to be two degrees out which led to the misdirection of supporting fire3. Maps such as that by Sydney Callaghan were also used during the invasion. Callaghan’s map further illustrates the inadequacy of preparation through its lack of detail, such as describing large areas of terrain as simply “low shrub”4 when in reality the terrain was more complex. Through the examination of primary sources it can be seen that prepara- tion for the invasion of Gallipoli was insufficient and led to errors during battle. Diaries of ANZACs present at Gallipoli are fundamental to our understanding of the Gallipoli experi- ence. Personal diaries were uncensored and therefore can be used to see an honest view of the campaign through soldiers’ eyes. One such diary was written by Ellis Silas and in this diary he reinforces the idea that ANZACs were indeed very brave and had “done splendidly”5. However what this diary and others like it do, that censored sources did not always do, was bring forward the idea that ANZACs were mortal and that they were suffering too. Almost every day Silas mentions gruesome injuries and describes the battles with his own judgements. Within the first week Silas describes the situation as being “so criti- 2013 Winner Australian Capital Territory Jack Castle-Burns Marist College Canberra 1 cal” and says “I don’t think we can hold the Ridge much longer” which gives an honest opinion into how severe the situation was for the ANZACs and what they were going through6. Diaries of soldiers such as Silas’ provide an uncensored insight into what life was actually like for the ANZACs at Gallipoli. In contrast to personal accounts are early reports and newspaper articles that often implied an Allied success at Gallipoli. Some sources went beyond acceptable fabrication, such as an article printed in the New York Times that details a military victory and describes a negotiation for Turkish surrender7. CEW Bean’s report recounts ANZACs taking successive ridges in high spirits upon landing; however, it does also describe some loss of life8. Bean’s report gave the impression that the ANZACs were fighting better than the fighting forces of other nations. Bean also states in his report that some Australians “made a name which will never die”9. This statement can be seen as an introduction to the ANZAC Legend and as a source for the misconception of success. The Gallipoli experience was very challenging and primary sources reveal the struggles the men en- dured. Almost all personal diaries of ANZACs describe endless fire by the Turks. Shrapnel from artil- lery and bullets from snipers were a constant threat to all those at Gallipoli. Furthermore, there was the lingering danger of disease which at some stages was killing more ANZACs than the Turks were10. If all that was not enough, the Gallipoli experience was worsened by poor leadership that would order “impossible”11 charges to attempt to capture Turkish trenches. One such charge was at The Nek where four consecutive lines of men were ordered to charge at the Turks and all four lines of men were killed by enemy fire. As Bean reported, “The 10th [Light Horse] went forward to meet death instantly, as the 8th [Light Horse] had done, the men running as swiftly and as straight as they could at the Turkish”12. The Gallipoli experience was harsh for the ANZACs who had to deal with not only their enemy, but also with unrelenting disease and ludicrous orders from their commanders. Through the harshness endured during the Gallipoli campaign, qualities of the ANZACs became known to the Australian public. Letters, diaries and other sources told tales of patriotism, larrikinism, bravery and mateship, such as those by Ellis Silas who declared “[I] am glad I have done my duty”13. John Simp- son Kirkpatrick became an icon for mateship and compassion for carrying wounded to field hospitals until his death at Gallipoli14. Albert Jacka became known for his bravery and was awarded the first Aus- tralian Victorian Cross of World War One15. Jacka would later be described as “the symbol of the spirit of the ANZACs”16. Although the Gallipoli campaign inflicted a harsh toll on the ANZACs, they persevered and through their character and actions the ANZAC Legend was formed. Perhaps the ANZAC Legend resulted from the need to explain the immense loss of life that people had to deal with. The public did not want to accept that their sons, fathers and husbands had died for what was essentially a military defeat. Instead, the Australian public focused on the feats and character of their diggers, so creating the ANZAC Legend. The public wanted to perhaps idolise the traits that the ANZACs had supposedly shown rather than focus on the failed military campaign. So our history became scat- tered with references to how our soldiers fought for mateship, fought valiantly and always maintained their strong sense of humour. In reality, were the ANZACs any braver than the Turks desperately fight- ing for their homeland? So it may have been trying to deal with the grief over the colossal loss of life that created the ANZAC Legend. The traits that we have defined as the ANZAC Legend such as bravery, sacrifice and mateship are still present in the Australian community. These characteristics are not only present in Australia’s armed forces, but can be seen in ordinary people throughout various communities. One group of these ordinary people that exist nationwide are those who volunteer for the State Emergency Service (SES). The SES is part of the emergency planning and response team that help in situations such as flooding, bushfires 2013 Winner Australian Capital Territory Jack Castle-Burns Marist College Canberra 132 and severe storms. The people who volunteer for the SES are not paid for their efforts; however, they are fundamental to the safety of people and property during disasters. These volunteers are ordinary people doing extraordinary things under adverse circumstances and with little recognition, showing numerous aspects and traits of the ANZAC Legend. Through people such as SES volunteers the ANZAC Legend remains present in Australian communities. The ANZAC Legend is forever evolving through the actions of the Australian and New Zealand people. It was not simply the events of the ANZACs at Gallipoli that formed the ANZAC Legend, but it was the actions of our armed forces in every subsequent conflict since. Throughout modern history Australians have constantly proved their military prowess and are constantly developing the ANZAC Legend. Aus- tralians have been recognized most notably for their actions in both World Wars, at the Battle of Ka- pyong, the Battle of Long Tan and more recently the Gulf Wars and Afghanistan. In these battles Austra- lians reaffirmed to the world that the ANZAC Legend does exist and that it remains as prominent now as it was when established at Gallipoli. Primary sources from and about Gallipoli tell the stories of the personal struggles of soldiers, of the hardships endured and of the tragic loss of so many young men. The sources leave no doubt that Galli- poli was indeed an appalling and tragic place to fight. From all of the hostilities, there emerged a legend. The legend told of mateship, sacrifice, larrikinism and bravery. These were the traits demonstrated by the Australians and New Zealanders who served valiantly on the shores of Gallipoli. Whilst the legend may have been originally founded on a misleading media and a grieving nation, the actions of those at Gallipoli were indeed highly notable. The characteristics of the men at Gallipoli have been repeated over time when the need has arisen for Australians and New Zealanders to fight in wars or serve their com- munities. To this day, and undoubtedly into the future, the ANZAC Legend remains a fundamental part of Australia’s history and culture. 2013 Winner Australian Capital Territory Jack Castle-Burns Marist College Canberra 133 REFERENCES 1.
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