I could not write about the full horror of Gallipoli as most of the full details are in a number of good books that are on sale but what I can do, is this… As my journey took me to Lone Pine I can tell you briefly in my own words of the fighting, heroism despair and carnage that went on at Lone Pine.
Birdwood produced his final plans for the Anzac offensive at the end of July, which was to attack the Turkish forces at Lone Pine, which they had fortified by trenches roofed over with heavy timbers perched on a 400ft plateau.
All summer the Australians had been digging a warren of underground tunnels towards the Turkish positions at Lone pine and their plan was to get as close as they could up to about 30ft away from the Turkish positions, break out of the tunnels and storm the Turkish trenches.
The 1st Australian Division was as to lead the attack the 4th Anzacs
On the day of the assault in the heat of the day the afternoon on 6th August every gun the British had opened fire at Lone Pine which the Turks replied back with a barrage of their own with everything they had being thrown at the British, so it kept on for a solid hour and then ceased.
The Anzacs broke out of the tunnels dashing over the front line trenches of the Turks while the second wave were left to deal with the front line trenches that were covered in logs
Trying to rip them of while shooting through the gaps, all this was going on under a terrific bombardment of shrapnel shells and rifle fire from the North
It was utter and complete carnage as the two sides fought to the death, as darkness came the fighting was becoming more intense, and the casualties on both side were mounting up. Seven Victoria Crosses were won that day by the Anzac’s who finally took control of Lone Pine two days later