This new book by maritime historian, Peter Plowman, tells the story of how Australia transported its troops and nurses to Lemnos and Gallipoli in WW1.
At the commencement of World War I in 1914, Australia had only
been a nation for 13 years and the RAN was only three years old (NZ had
been a dominion for 7 years and had no independent navy). Transporting the Anzacs to war was a massive
undertaking. This book tells the story of the planning stages and the requisition of ships
through to the Gallipoli landing of 25 April 1915.
The book tells of the mobilization of troops and sailors, requisition
and refitting of ships, the convoys and number of voyages,
various changes of plan and destination, and the assistance offered by
ships of allied navies. Drawing on newspaper accounts, diaries and memoirs of
sailors and soldiers involved, the book describes conditions on
board - training, sport, exercise, living and eating conditions,
hygiene, medical examinations and supervision, even 'crossing the line'
festivities; also conditions for horses - and details of convoy
formation. By the time of the blooding of ANZAC forces at Gallipoli, the
force had been moulded very much 'on board' and 'in transit'. Two appendices give details of all the transport ships involved.At the commencement of
World War I in 1914
This book is available from good bookshops and on-line.
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