1915:12 Keeping A Secret

Keeping A Secret

 

By the time December came around, the men were noticing changes in their routine and rumours spread. There was talk of leaving.

 

But the Anzacs who had fought long and hard couldn't really believe that an evacuation would even be considered - they couldn't possibly be 'giving up'.

 

"Fatigue parties and others who return from the Beach tell the most weird stories about picks, shovels, engines, picking iron etc being towed out to sea and jettisoned.
About ordnance stores being opened to anyone and kerosene being tipped over huge stacks of supplies...However it can only mean one thing, evacuation.
So all we have suffered and sacrificed here has been in vain, a most glorious chance in the history of this war, absolutely failed and lost by the most absurd and ridiculous manner that she was commenced."
Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Hart, HQ Wellington Battalion

 

Gallipoli had cost the Allies greatly. Huge numbers of men were killed or wounded for nothing more than the land they still clung to now and were still struggling to hold. The shelling from the Turkish troops along the Anzac front line had increased. The Turks who had fought bravely to defend their country were still 'game for a fight' even though their losses were also huge. With all this in mind, plans for an evacuation (had begun in November) were drawn up under the guidance of the Australian, Colonel White, Chief of Staff to the Anzac Corps.

 

The evacuation would take place over a number of days and men would be withdrawn bit by bit. Every effort would be made to keep the Turks thinking that nothing had changed on the Peninsula and they gradually became accustomed to less activity on the Anzac Front.  The soldiers set booby traps and tricks for the Turks. They left messages and rigged up their rifles in the trenches to make it look as if they were still there. Clever devices of water and sand tins were hung on the triggers of rifles so they would fire after the Anzacs had gone.  Everything was to be left and destroyed so the equipment and supplies would be useless to the Turks.   "I hope, said one of them to Birdwood on the final day, pointing to a little cemetery, I hope they won't hear us marching down the deres [valleys]."

 

The New Zealanders began leaving the Peninsula on the 20th December 1915 and finally, in the early hours of 21 December, the rear-guard crept away. Down the dunes past the boxwood crosses of the graves of their 'cobbers', onto the beach and then onto the lighters. It was over.  Not a single Anzac was killed or injured in the evacuation.