2nd Australian Infantry Battalion
The 2nd Battalion was among the first infantry units raised for the AIF during the First World War. Like the 1st, 3rd and 4th Battalions it was recruited from New South Wales and, together with these battalions, formed the 1st Brigade.
The battalion was raised within a fortnight of the declaration of war in August 1914 and embarked just two months later. After a brief stop in Albany, Western Australia, the battalion proceeded to Egypt, arriving on 2 December. The battalion took part in the ANZAC landing on 25 April 1915 as part of the second and third waves, and was led by Lieutenant Colonel G. F. Braund, who was killed in action nine days later. On 6 August, the 1st Brigade led the charge at Lone Pine. Among the dead was the commander of the 2nd Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel R. Scobie, killed during a Turkish counter-attack. The battalion served at ANZAC until the evacuation in December 1915.
After the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the battalion returned to Egypt. In March 1916, it sailed for France and the Western Front. From then until 1918 the battalion took part in operations against the German Army, principally in the Somme Valley in France and around Ypres in Belgium. The battalion's first major action in France was at Pozieres in the Somme valley in July 1916. Later the battalion fought at Ypres, in Flanders, before returning to the Somme for winter.
The battalion was raised within a fortnight of the declaration of war in August 1914 and embarked just two months later. After a brief stop in Albany, Western Australia, the battalion proceeded to Egypt, arriving on 2 December. The battalion took part in the ANZAC landing on 25 April 1915 as part of the second and third waves, and was led by Lieutenant Colonel G. F. Braund, who was killed in action nine days later. On 6 August, the 1st Brigade led the charge at Lone Pine. Among the dead was the commander of the 2nd Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel R. Scobie, killed during a Turkish counter-attack. The battalion served at ANZAC until the evacuation in December 1915.
After the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the battalion returned to Egypt. In March 1916, it sailed for France and the Western Front. From then until 1918 the battalion took part in operations against the German Army, principally in the Somme Valley in France and around Ypres in Belgium. The battalion's first major action in France was at Pozieres in the Somme valley in July 1916. Later the battalion fought at Ypres, in Flanders, before returning to the Somme for winter.
Gallipoli
The ANZAC forces, under the command of Lieutenant General William Birdwood, had been based in Egypt due to of a lack of training and accommodation facilities in England. Later, these forces helped protect the Suez Canal following Turkey’s entry into war in October 1914.
As fighting on the Western Front in France in late 1914 deteriorated into a stalemate, the British War Council suggested that Germany could best be defeated by attacks on her allies, Austria, Hungary and Turkey. Initially, the attack on Turkey was planned as a naval operation. However, following several abortive attempts to force the Dardanelles in February and March, the British Cabinet agreed that land forces could be used. A combined international force (the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) was assembled under the command of British General Sir Ian Hamilton, and a three-pronged landing was planned to clear the Turkish defenders from the straits. Once the straits were clear, the allied fleet would steam into Constantinople where, it was believed, the threat of the fleet's guns would cause mass panic and force Turkey to surrender. At dawn on 25 April 1915, the ANZACs landed north of Gaba Tepe (the landing area later named Anzac Cove) while the British forces landed at Cape Helles on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
The aim of these two landings was to capture the Turkish forts commanding the narrow straits. French forces attacked the Turkish positions on the Asia Minor side of the Dardanelles as a diversion and later landed and took over part of the Helles frontline alongside the British. Later reinforcements included the dismounted Australian and New Zealand Mounted Brigades at Anzac Cove. In August, a new British corps landed at Suvla Bay, to the north of Anzac Cove, in support of an attempt by allies to break out of the Anzac beachhead.
As fighting on the Western Front in France in late 1914 deteriorated into a stalemate, the British War Council suggested that Germany could best be defeated by attacks on her allies, Austria, Hungary and Turkey. Initially, the attack on Turkey was planned as a naval operation. However, following several abortive attempts to force the Dardanelles in February and March, the British Cabinet agreed that land forces could be used. A combined international force (the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) was assembled under the command of British General Sir Ian Hamilton, and a three-pronged landing was planned to clear the Turkish defenders from the straits. Once the straits were clear, the allied fleet would steam into Constantinople where, it was believed, the threat of the fleet's guns would cause mass panic and force Turkey to surrender. At dawn on 25 April 1915, the ANZACs landed north of Gaba Tepe (the landing area later named Anzac Cove) while the British forces landed at Cape Helles on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
The aim of these two landings was to capture the Turkish forts commanding the narrow straits. French forces attacked the Turkish positions on the Asia Minor side of the Dardanelles as a diversion and later landed and took over part of the Helles frontline alongside the British. Later reinforcements included the dismounted Australian and New Zealand Mounted Brigades at Anzac Cove. In August, a new British corps landed at Suvla Bay, to the north of Anzac Cove, in support of an attempt by allies to break out of the Anzac beachhead.
Anzacs
At the landing on 25 April 1915, the 16th Battalion was about 1000 strong. Overnight on 2 May, they lost 8 officers and 330 men. At roll call on 3 May, only nine officers and 290 men answered their names. 16th Battalion signaller, and artist, Ellis Silas was evacuated on 17 May, later publishing extracts from the diary and sketchbook he kept during his time at Gallipoli which he called Crusading at Anzac A.D. 1915. The book provided a dramatic insight into the dangers, hardship and loss that accompanied the Anzac Corps’ attempt to establish a foothold on the Gallipoli peninsula. He describes how ‘…all signallers have been wiped out of A and B Companies except myself... the continual cry of ‘Signaller’ never seems to cease.’ Silas was the only participant in the Battle of the Landing to produce paintings from his personal experiences.
Beginning on 6 August, the August Offensive was a major attempt by Allied forces at Gallipoli to break the stalemate that had persisted since the landings on 25 April 1915, attempting to seize high points along the Sari Bair range, Chunuk Bair and Hill 971. The offensive began with a diversionary attack by Anzacs at Lone Pine, a British attack on The Vineyard at Helles and extensive British troop landings at Suvla Bay. The August Offensive failed as Turkish troops, led by Colonel Mustafa Kemal, defended and counter-attacked, driving the Allied troops from Chunuk Bair and holding steady against all the diversionary attacks. The battles fought by Australians and New Zealanders at Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair and The Nek are remembered for their ferocity and sacrifice. Within three days of fighting at Lone Pine, seven Victoria Crosses were awarded to Australian soldiers. Of 4,600 Australians in the Battle of Lone Pine, 2,277 men were killed or wounded.
Beginning on 6 August, the August Offensive was a major attempt by Allied forces at Gallipoli to break the stalemate that had persisted since the landings on 25 April 1915, attempting to seize high points along the Sari Bair range, Chunuk Bair and Hill 971. The offensive began with a diversionary attack by Anzacs at Lone Pine, a British attack on The Vineyard at Helles and extensive British troop landings at Suvla Bay. The August Offensive failed as Turkish troops, led by Colonel Mustafa Kemal, defended and counter-attacked, driving the Allied troops from Chunuk Bair and holding steady against all the diversionary attacks. The battles fought by Australians and New Zealanders at Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair and The Nek are remembered for their ferocity and sacrifice. Within three days of fighting at Lone Pine, seven Victoria Crosses were awarded to Australian soldiers. Of 4,600 Australians in the Battle of Lone Pine, 2,277 men were killed or wounded.