Synopses & Reviews
The landings on the Gallipoli Peninsula on April 25, 1915 represented the greatest amphibious operation carried out during the course of the First World War. What had initially been a purely naval enterprise had escalated to become a full-scale Anglo-French invasion, resulting in an eight-month campaign which Churchill hoped would knock Turkey out of the war. For a campaign that promised so much, it ultimately became a tragedy of lost opportunities. By January 1916, when the last men were taken off the peninsula, the casualties totaled 205,000. This book tells the stories of the 39 men whose bravery on the battlefield was rewarded by the Victoria Cross, among them the war's first Australian VC, first New Zealand VC, and first Royal Marine VC. It represents the highest number of VCs won in a theatre of war, other than the Western Front.
Synopsis
During the opening four months of the First World War no fewer than 46 soldiers from the British and Commonwealth armies were awarded Britain's highest award for gallantry, the Victoria Cross. In a series of mini-biographies, Gerald Gliddon examines the men and the dramatic events that led to the award of this most coveted of medals. These men were "ordinary" soldiers from widely differing social backgrounds, who all acted above and beyond the call of duty. Each story is told chronologically and offers a fresh perspective on the opening stages of the "war to end wars."
About the Author
Stephen Snelling is a senior journalist with Eastern Counties Newspapers based in Norwich. He has also written several other titles in the VCs of the First World War series: Naval VCs, Air VCs, and Passchendaele. Stephen is a member of the Military Historical Society and the Gallipoli Association.