Krithia was a key objective in the land offensives; a killing ground
greater than Anzac or Suvla. This book adds to the Gallipoli story and
the preceding Battleground books on that campaign by recounting not only
the landings at Helles of 25 April 1915, but also the subsequent bitter
battles that followed in an attempt to capture the village and the vital
high ground of Achi Baba. General Hunter-Weston's weakened 29th Division
achieved little during the first two bloody battles of Krithia, even
when reinforced by the Anzacs, 42nd Division, Royal Naval Division and
the French. The allies had little to show from their costly daylight
frontal attacks, apart from a slightly firmer footing ashore and a
growing casualty list. As the military situation looked to degenerate
into a Western Front style stalemate, General Sir Ian Hamilton pushed
for a final battle of Krithia. Using Hunter-Weston's newly formed VIII
Corps, and General Gouraud's French Corps Expéditionnaire d'Orient, the
Third Battle of Krithia launched on 6 June 1915. Despite a promising
start, the attack soon collapsed against a stubborn Turkish defence, and
although some lessons had been learnt from earlier failures;
underestimation of the enemy was not one of them.
This is the true story, told using a rich mix of letters, diaries,
photographs and maps, of Gallipoli's most costly battles. Gallipoli
today is an exquisitely beautiful and tranquil place, with its turquoise
waters, stretches of sandy beaches, wild flower covered meadows and pine
forested heights, such a contrast to what occurred here over a hundred
years ago.
