Unseen footage from Gallipoli campaign found by war museum
SYDNEY -- The Australian War Memorial has unearthed what it believes is only the footage of Anzac Cove during the Gallipoli battle of World War One, an iconic event in Australian history that is commemorated each year on Anzac Day.
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) forces landed at Gallipoli in April 1915, part of a British-led campaign to confront Turkey and open up a sea route for Russia. Although the campaign was a disaster, with the two sides suffering more than 300,000 casualties, it has become central to the national identity in Australia and New Zealand.
The two countries remember their war dead on April 25th, the anniversary of the landings. And as they prepare to mark Anzac Day next Wednesday, the military museum in Canberra has announced the chance find of grainy black and white film showing the shoreline at Anzac Cove, and British troops massing down the coast at Suvla Bay...
Although [the war correspondent, Ellis] Ashmead-Bartlett was critical of the campaign itself, his colourful and stirring accounts of the bravery of Australia soldiers helped to forge the Anzac legend. To some Australians, their country, a former British penal colony, came of age during the battle for control of the Gallipoli peninsula.
[The War Memorial’s film and sound curator, Stephanie] Boyle said: “Because we have so little authentic footage, everything we can add to this counts as a major discovery, a possibility for new study.”
Read entire article at Independent
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) forces landed at Gallipoli in April 1915, part of a British-led campaign to confront Turkey and open up a sea route for Russia. Although the campaign was a disaster, with the two sides suffering more than 300,000 casualties, it has become central to the national identity in Australia and New Zealand.
The two countries remember their war dead on April 25th, the anniversary of the landings. And as they prepare to mark Anzac Day next Wednesday, the military museum in Canberra has announced the chance find of grainy black and white film showing the shoreline at Anzac Cove, and British troops massing down the coast at Suvla Bay...
Although [the war correspondent, Ellis] Ashmead-Bartlett was critical of the campaign itself, his colourful and stirring accounts of the bravery of Australia soldiers helped to forge the Anzac legend. To some Australians, their country, a former British penal colony, came of age during the battle for control of the Gallipoli peninsula.
[The War Memorial’s film and sound curator, Stephanie] Boyle said: “Because we have so little authentic footage, everything we can add to this counts as a major discovery, a possibility for new study.”