Gallipoli

On February 19, 1915, the Allied navy began its initial bombardment of the Ottoman fortifications along the Dardanelles straits, marking the start of the Gallipoli Campaign. The goal was to weaken the defenses and clear the way for a fleet to pass through. Despite achieving some damage, the fortifications proved resilient, and this failure led to escalating the operation into a full land invasion, setting the stage for future battles on the peninsula.

On April 18, 1915, the Allied forces launched a major naval attack on the Dardanelles Straits, which was the precursor to the Gallipoli land campaign. This initiative aimed to force passage through the straits to threaten Constantinople directly. However, the attack faced unexpected resistance and heavy losses due to mines and artillery fire from the Ottoman defenses. The failure of this naval assault led to the fateful decision to launch a land invasion on Gallipoli.

On April 25, 1915, Allied forces, including Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), launched a naval attack followed by an amphibious landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula. The objective was to secure the Dardanelles Strait, an important waterway that would allow ships to reach the Ottoman capital of Constantinople. The landings were met with strong resistance from Turkish forces under the command of Mustafa Kemal. Despite initial successes, the campaign became a stalemate, marked by heavy casualties on both sides.

On May 19, 1915, the Ottoman Empire launched a major counteroffensive against the Allied troops at Gallipoli. This attempt aimed to push the ANZAC forces back into the sea and secure control over the contested peninsula. However, despite the massive scale of the attack and the number of troops involved, the operation was ultimately unsuccessful due to the effective defense put up by the Allied soldiers. This marked one of the bloodiest days of the Gallipoli Campaign.

The Battle of Gully Ravine, fought from June 28 to July 5, 1915, was a localized but intense battle during the Gallipoli Campaign. British and French forces launched an attack aimed at capturing Turkish trenches along the ravine's rim for strategic advantage. Despite initial successes in some sectors, the battle was costly in terms of casualties and highlighted the widespread difficulties faced by the Allies on the peninsula, with gains being hard-won and quickly contested.

The Landing at Suvla Bay, part of the August Offensive, took place on August 6, 1915, and was an attempt by the British 9th Corps to break the deadlock on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Despite initially facing minimal resistance, a lack of aggressive action and indecisive leadership allowed Ottoman forces to reinforce their positions. The operation failed to achieve its objectives and added to a series of stalemates in the overall campaign.

The Battle of Lone Pine was a significant engagement that took place between August 6 and August 10, 1915, during the Gallipoli Campaign. Named after a solitary pine tree, this battle was part of a diversionary attack by ANZAC forces to distract Ottoman troops from the main attack at Sari Bair. The fighting was intense and involved hand-to-hand combat in the trenches. While the ANZAC forces succeeded in capturing the Turkish trenches, the victory came at a high cost with heavy casualties on both sides.

The Battle of Chunuk Bair took place between August 7 and August 10, 1915, as part of the wider Gallipoli Campaign. This battle was part of the August Offensive and involved New Zealand forces attempting to capture a strategic high ground known as Chunuk Bair. Initially successful, the New Zealanders managed to capture the summit, but counterattacks by Turkish defenders led to its recapture. The battle is remembered for its heavy losses and the bravery displayed by the troops.

The Battle of Scimitar Hill was the largest single-day attack mounted by the British at Gallipoli and took place on August 21, 1915. This battle was part of the August Offensive, which aimed to capture the high ground and break the deadlock in the region. Despite its scale, the attack was poorly coordinated and suffered from inadequate artillery support. As a result, the advance was repelled with tremendous loss of life, illustrating the challenges faced at Gallipoli.

After eight months of fierce fighting and failed attempts to break the stalemate at Gallipoli, the decision was made to evacuate ANZAC troops from the peninsula. The operation, which started in December 1915, was planned meticulously to ensure the withdrawal was secretive and without heavy casualties. By December 20, the evacuation was successfully completed, marking an end to the costly and futile campaign which failed to achieve its objectives. The campaign resulted in over 250,000 Allied casualties.