Evacuation of Suvla Bay and Anzac Cove Begins

“It became obvious that a move of some kind was on foot. Working parties were continually being sent down to move guns. Batmen and others on foraging expeditions to the beach found stores of all sorts thrown open. Several battalions of the New Army went away for a rest. Sections of the Field Ambulance moved away, none knew whither. More guns were moved. Fresh stores were thrown open. Rifles and ammunition were destroyed. The secret was becoming more open, but still men refused to believe the inevitable. The ground had been so hardly won, surely it would not be abandoned?

December 16th a small advance party left for Mudros. So it had come. The feeling amongst both officers and men was bitter in the extreme. "I am no lion-heart, but I would sooner go over the ridge in frontal assault, with all its chances of death with honour, than do this thing.”” [Excerpt From: O. E. Burton. “The Auckland Regiment.” ]

Dates: 
Wednesday, December 15, 1915
Media Image: 
Caption: 
18 December 1915, Gallipoli below the Apex, destroying biscuits tins and stores prior to the evacuation
Source: 
Source: National Army Museum, New Zealand. Ref: 1993.1297
Casualty Flag: 
No
Conflict: 
Group: 
Gallipoli

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