Les Carlyon (1942–2019)

Gallipoli is still THE defining Australian myth, where plucky little Australia (and New Zealand) proved themselves worthy nations on the battlefield. And what a battlefield, so close to the ancient city of Troy and Homer's enduring portrait of men at war. Carlyon is a wel known sports reporter in Australia, but this book is a step up in class and he handles it well. I have a relative buried at Shell Green and have been to three Dawn Services at Amzac Cove and the deep emotions the windswept show more landscape brings harks back to family stories. Carlyon has captured a lot of this emotion and has not been afraid to skewer some Australian myth making, giving a more well-rounded portrait of an exercise that over the passing decades has been lauded as nation-defining and a imperial bloodbath. But anyone who has stood at the Light Horse trenches at The Nek can never forget the courage of these fellow Australians. The turks too are not forgotten, and the continuing hopsitality they show to Aussie and Kiwi pilgrims is often genuine. show less

This must be one of the most detailed (but partial) histories of the Gallipoli campaign ever written, a credit to the extraordinary research carried out by the author and his ability to marshal it all into a coherent thread. But the devil is in the detail and, unless you’re fanatical about this tragic endeavour, the detail is mind numbing. This is a pity because he captures some amazing human stories. Another wee whinge; forgivable given the author’s antipodean antecedents, but you would show more think that this was an ANZAC only campaign, that some Englishmen may have had some passing interest in the action, acknowledged because they are from the Mother country after all. There is little or no mention of, for example, the approximately 3,500 from the 10th Irish Division alone that died. All this means really is that the book is mis-titled, it’s not about Gallipoli but about ANZAC Gallipoli. This is entirely pardonable given the enormous consequences for New Zealand and Australia that this battle had – and has to this day. A book not for the faint hearted. show less

Solidly in the 'Donkeys' tradition of World War One history, Carlyon's Gallipoli is an angry book but there is much to be angry about in this campaign. The description of the battle of the Nek is the book's high point but its anger clouds much else; do we really need so many laboured references to Hunter-Weston and butchery? Partly because of the endless sarcasm and also because Alan Moorehead was a better writer, there is nothing here that moved me in the same way as the account of the show more landings at Helles on April 25th nor of the suicidal Turkish assaults of May in Moorehead's book. Even Compton Mackenzie's famous 'kettle' story is dusted off again but to less effect than in Moorehead's better book. show less

A very good narrative about the Gallipoli campaign, as unapologetic as it is detailed, yet, fair, balanced & incisive. There's a lot of detail here, but only what's appropriate to the subject. Both a look from he soldiers point of view and from the point of view of general strategy, this highly readable account of the events of 1915, is bewitching & involving. I'd not read much, if anything about this theatre of World War One. And the pacing and use of appropriately located maps was very show more good and made reading the shoe thing easier. Very good. Highly recommended. show less