Krithia: The Forgotten Anzac Battle of Gallipoli by Matt McLachlan

This book describes in great detail the murderous disaster of the Helles and Anzac battles at Gallipoli, on Turkey’s Dardanelles peninsula in1915. The story examines the outcome of the often overlooked battle for the key village of Krithia from the perspectives of individual soldiers from New Zealand, Australia, England and France as well as the views and actions of the Turkish enemy. 

The key elements highlighted in this thoroughly researched story are incompetent leadership, lack of well thought out plans, inadequate equipment, poor communication, and underestimation of the capacity of the Turkish response to the invasion of their homeland. The author highlights individual acts of extreme bravery at the landings and in the following days as the Australians and New Zealanders attempted to capture the strategic village of Krithia by frontal assault against deadly machine gun and rifle fire.

Recommended for senior secondary students: the events depicted are not for the faint hearted reader. Hand to hand combat is described from vivid first hand accounts and horrendous conditions on the battle field are heart-rending.

Themes: Gallipoli, Anzacs, World War 1.

Paul Pledger