In the Trenches

The soldiers of Gallipoli lived, suffered and dies as ordinary men under extraordinary circumstances. Most Anzacs were volunteers who had never seen war, much less the horror of trench warfare. Their enemy was a tough peasant army who they soon learned to respect rather than blindly hate. Out of necessity both sides made themselves at home in their trenches, despite the noise, bloodshed and disease all around. When the campaign was ended a legend remained.

Activities

· Mark on a timeline the major wars and peacekeeping missions that Australia has been involved in. Select one of these events and write a letter home as if you were there.

· Write an obituary for an Anzac hero. These were young men with a passion for their cause, capture some of this emotion in your writing.

· Analyse The Mercury for news about conflicts around the world; plot these on a map. Develop a map colour key to indicate the type of conflict, e.g. international, tribal, border, etc.

· Write a recipe for resolution describing the essential ingredients to harmonious solutions.

· Have the Anzacs left a legacy? Discuss this question with reference to Australia's recent role in the conflict in Iraq, the War on Terrorism and the peacekeeping missions in East Timor.

· How does the media portray the Anzacs. Collect photos and stories to support your description.

· If you were in charge of organising an Anzac Day march what preparations would you have to make? Consider the route, transport, insurance, crowds, etc. What would you say to the crowd at dawn? Write an epitaph.

· Research one aspect of WW1 such as planes, weapons, uniforms, etc. and make a 3-minute multi media presentation to the class about your findings.

· Creativity in the trenches. What did the diggers do for leisure? How did they take their mind off the terrible things that were happening around them? Write a legend about a digger that helped his mates through the tough times.

· Compare and contrast the elite troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with the Anzacs.

Websites

Visit Gallipoli

www.anzacsite.gov.au
Posted by the Department of Veteran's Affairs this site offers an overview of the campaign, personal accounts from the front, details about the memorials at Gallipoli and information on visiting the historic battlefields today.

About.com Military History- World War I

http://militaryhistory.about.com/cs/worldwari1/
Gives a good overview of World War I, with in depth articles on major campaigns such as Gallipoli.

Gallipoli 1915: The Drama of the Dardanelles

www.iwm.org.uk/online/gallipoli/
An online exhibit by the British Imperial War Museum. Includes an overview of the campaign, the planning, and breakdowns of each area of operations.

Anzac soldiers killed at Gallipoli

www.anzacs.org/
A unique site with biographical information on every soldier who died during the Gallipoli campaign.

First World War.Org

http://www.greatwar.org/
Covers all aspects of the Great War. But you will need to do a search for articles on Gallipoli.

Australian War Memorial

www.awm.gov.au/atwar/index.htm
An overview of all the battles in which Australians have taken part, with a special emphasis on Gallipoli.

Books

The Anzacs at Gallipoli
By Chris Pugsley
Well illustrated and concise for younger readers. Has lots of quotes from participants with graphic descriptions of conditions at the front. (Lothian Books)

Australians At War: World War I
By Robert Hillman
An overview of Australia's participation in WWI. Gallipoli is given special emphasis and there is information on the home front as well. (Echidna Books - Heinemann)

When Australians Went to War
By Robert Hillman
A brief introduction to all of the wars (up to Vietnam) in which Australia has had a major involvement. Some great facts and other historical tidbits. (Echidna Books - Heinemann)

Ordinary Heroes
By Barry Dickins
Collected stories from Australian soldiers from World War I to Vietnam. A great primary source on what it was like to be on the frontlines. (Hardie Grant Books)

Private Wars: Personal Records ofAnzacs in the Great War.
By Greg Kerr
A history of Anzac soldiers in World War One drawn from letters and diaries of the soldiers themselves. (Oxford University Press)

The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles
By Chris Coulthard-Clark
Contains concise entries on Australia's military involvement from the Maori Wars to Timor. Including good coverage of the Gallipoli campaign. (Allen and Unwin)

Gallipoli
By Les Carlyon
The most recent, and one of the most comprehensive books on the Gallipoli campaign. Written with character insights as poetic as a novel it may not win the vote of historians but it is still a good reference source and a very good read. (Macmillan Australia)

A Fortunate Life
By A.B. Facey
Facey's autobiography includes an account of his time at Gallipoli. A great source for the soldier's eye view of battle. (Penguin)

Soldier Boy
By Anthony Hill
The story of James Martin, a 14 year old who lied about his age in order to enlist in the First World War. Martin was sent to Gallipoli where he became one of the most tragic casualties in a tragic campaign. (Penguin)

World War I: Eyewitness Guides
By Simon Adams
A well illustrated pictorial history of the Great War. Includes a special spread on Gallipoli. (Dorling Kindersley)

The Boys Who Came Home
By Harvey Broadbent.
A look at Gallipoli through the eyes of the officers and soldiers who made it home. (ABC Books)

The Great World War 1914-45
By John Bourne, Peter Liddle andIan Whitehead.
An interesting new angle on the era of war in the early 20thCentury. It links both conflicts as part of the one great war and includes a special chapter on the amphibious landings at Gallipoli and what impact they had on planning for the biggest amphibious landings in history at Normandy on D-Day 1944. (HarperCollins)

The First World War
BY Martin Gilbert
An excellent overview of the war with a chapter devoted to the Gallipoli campaign. (HarperCollins)

The Shores of Gallipoli
By Tom Frame
An account of Australia’s naval involvement in the 1915Dardanelles campaign, including the outstanding achievement of the submarine AE2 and the heroic work of the RAN Bridging Train. (Hale & Iremonger)

Places

Australian War Memorial - Canberra

There are special displays and education programs devoted to Gallipoli and the Anzacs. For details check out the website at www.awm.gov.au

Videos

Australians at War

Tells the story of Australia’s wartime experiences over the last 100 years. Combining never-before-seen archival film and stills, interviews and newly filmed sequences. Episode 2 concentrates on World War One and Gallipoli. Available from ABC shops http://shop1.abc.net.au/index.asp