The Second Battle of Krithia has existed largely in the shadows of the bigger Gallipoli story. It is, however, one of the most poignant and tragic tales of World War I. The fascinating story has been brought to light at last by bestselling military historian Mat McLachlan, author of The Cowra Breakout.
In May 1915 during World War I, British units tried to capture the village of Krithia on the southern tip of the Gallipoli peninsula. Australian and New Zealand units were sent to reinforce the British. On 8 May, the Anzac troops took part in a bloody battle near Krithia. Advancing across a featureless plain in broad daylight, with no idea where the Turkish defenders were, the Anzacs came under a hail of machine-gun and rifle fire. The Australians managed to advance, but got nowhere near the village and dug in well short of their objective. The New Zealanders on their left fared no better. By the end of the day, over 1800 Anzac troops had been killed or wounded.
Supported by first-hand accounts and oral history, Krithia features the stories of a number of Australians, New Zealanders and Turks – some who survived, some who didn’t. The battle of Krithia is a tale of bravery and sacrifice, and a vivid portrait of men doing their best under hellish conditions. It’s a great Australian story that hasn’t been told – until now.
