Anzac Cove, Ari Burnu, from John Masefield's 'Gallipoli.'
View of Anzac, looking towards Suvla.
"Saturday, 18 December 1915: On 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. watch this morning. Went out about 5 a.m. to waken officers and saw a great glare in the direction of Anzac. Evidently the heads burning all stores etc. Seems fairly cheeky though. Four aeroplanes up at once, evidently reconnoitring. At 9 p.m. most of the boys got away. Everything going satisfactorily—only occasional burst of fire disturbing the night. Turks been working hard all day improving fire trench. Password Malta. . . . Burnt all our intelligence department stuff such as old messages etc."
Excerpt from the diary of New Zealander C.J. Walsh during the evacuation of the Allied positions at Suvla Bay and Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli peninsula. Walsh's boat cast off at 1:52 AM on Monday December 20. On December 9 Walsh heard rumors that all positions would be evacuated. The order that no outgoing mail was allowed had seemed to add substance to the rumors.
Men of Gallipoli: The Dardanelles and Gallipoli Experience August 1914 to January 1916 by Peter Liddle, page 263, copyright © Peter Liddle, 1976, publisher: David and Charles, publication date: 1976
1915-12-18, 1915, December, Gallipoli, evacuation, Anzac, Anzac Cove
