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In a letter by Private Harold Gordon Craig, he recalled what they found when they went ashore.

"We had to climb down the ship rope ladder into our boat. There were about 10 boats and 25 men in each boat. A tug took us within 100 yards of the beach and we had to row the rest of the way. The shrapnel was bursting all round us, also machine guns, rifle shot."

"We lost a lot of men before we landed, but our boat got ashore safely. The Naval Officer in our boat - a big fat chap - when a shrapnel burst within a yard of us laughed and said "Oh never mind them, the beggars couldn't hit a hay stack".

"I believe the first lot to arrive fixed bayonets in the water and did not wait for any orders but simply charged the Turks. Some of them dropped the guns and cried for mercy, which they didn't get, and the rest went for their lives to the trenches."

Major Vivien Benjafield was in the thick of it.

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"No matter how bravely the Aussies fought, they were simply never going to win. The die had been cast long before they even arrived." The evacuation was well documented in a diary kept by Major Stewart Boyden:

"This was Tuesday when we were first told & rumour came round that we would be leaving the following Monday, this rumour it appears was purposely started to put away spies that were about off the scent, for of course as you all know the evacuation took place on the Sunday night - on the Thursday we got our orders, the first of the 5th brigade were to leave their post at 6pm Saturday night.

"Thursday
After our orders were received we all packed up & our things were sent away on the Thursday night, then came a time of waiting such as none of us ever want.

"Saturday
Saturday morning came & we were all greatly excited, for the Turks started to shell us pretty heavily but there were no casualties in our battalion; however we fully expected an attack after the shelling but none came. I thought Saturday, Dec 18 1915 would never end.

Grim set faces and eyes so bright, for a phantom host was marching there

"It was wonderfully carried out there, wasn't a hitch; we all thought that there would be a terrible congestion at the entrance to the main communications trench, that is where all the other communications trenches lead into, but everything was so beautifully timed & worked out that although there were hundreds of troops from all directions meeting at the one spot; there wasn't the slightest delay.

"All this time the troops remaining behind kept up the usual fire & bombing, so that all around everything was as usual - we had about a mile & a half to go from our trenches to the beach straight to the punts that were waiting for us.

"But Oh: those few minutes that we waited for the punt to push off everyone's heart was in their mouth, for we were in the range of "Beachy Bill"; (there is about 200 yards danger zone & everything within that range is completely wiped out if a shell is fired) & I thought we would never get across it; but once the punt was across I breathed again, and my whole heart went out in gratitude to God for we were now safe."

MAJOR STEWART BOYDEN

Many people might say why do we remember Gallipoli? The events at Gallipoli explain a lot about "who we are and where we're from".

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While grief was carried at a national level, it was always a loved one who carried the the legacy for the rest of their lives. Lieutenant Brock was shot and killed by a Turkish sniper on 2 June 1915 in Gallipoli.

Corporal Lucas waited a few weeks before writing to Lieutenant Brock's mother who lived in South Australia

"Dear Mrs Brock,

I wonder if you will forgive this intrusion by a perfect stranger into a happening so sacred to you & your family.

I have hesitated writing before as I considered the subject too delicate for me to deal with - but of late I have considered it would do no harm.

To proceed then - it has reference to your son Halcombe, who met his death in such a glorious manner in Gallipoli on Wednesday 2nd June.

I keep a diary & of course made a record of his death as I happened to be the last person he spoke to: hence the date. No doubt you have heard from other officers something about how he was killed, but I hope I can give you (in the hope that I am not treading upon too delicate ground), his last words.

Mr Brock was the leader of our troop, of which I am a Corporal & had endeared himself so much to all the men that there were many throats with lumps in them when they heard of his being shot.

His batman (orderly) cried in his dugout & had not looked cheerful again up to the day he was hit by shrapnel. We all swore by your son as he was a soldier & a gentleman to the backbone.

We had just gone into the trenches on Pope's Hill that afternoon ('twas a perfect day in June) & Mr Brock was telling me where he should like the men placed in the trenches (on Pope's Hill). His last words were 'I should like you to remain here Lucas & see that a good lookout is kept - will you see...' & I received an awful shock as he was sniped by a bullet through the brain. Needless to say how I felt, as I had esteemed him a personal friend of mine - more especially since we had been on the Peninsula & all parade ground formalities had been dispensed with.

We had innumerable confidential chats in his dugout or in the trenches & I admired his manliness & stamina. The boys had always thought him effeminate & that he would not withstand the rigours of the trenches, but he was as fit as anyone & keen. They altered their minds when we reached Gallipoli & he mixed with us all as one of ourselves. They worshipped him.

We buried your son at night in the Anglican burial ground at the foot of Shrapnel Gully where the grave is cared for.

I was always glad afterwards his death had been without pain & instantaneous.

Your son had worked in the Bank of Adelaide with my brother & that drew us together a little maybe. He is still in the Bank & of course I told him as soon as he joined us.

I trust this has not proved too long a screed & that I shall have your forgiveness for my intrusion.

Sincerely yours,
Frank R. Lucas.

Maybe 'apres la guerre' I shall have the honour of meeting you in person."