Silas' drawings – Crusading at Anzac
A book of sketches by Signaller Ellis Silas, drawn during his time at Gallipoli. There are 21 images in total.
- Read the introduction by General Sir William Birdwood.
- Read the foreword by General Sir Ian Hamilton
Introduction
by General Sir William Birdwood
It gives me much pleasure to be able to write a very short introduction to the book of drawings of Signaller Ellis Silas, though these will themselves, I hope, appeal fully to all who see them, as portraying incidents in the lives of some of our Australian and New Zealand soldiers on service. The sketches were made by Signaller Silas during the time he spent with the Australian troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and they contain an excellent record of the life spent by those troops during the months they and their comrades at Cape Helles and Suvla were upholding the honour of the British flag in that part of the world. I heartily wish Signaller Silas all success with his book, and trust that, before the war is finished, his health will enable him to rejoin the troops, and that he will find opportunity of giving us yet further proofs of his ability as an artist, in showing us something of the life of the troops in other theatres of war.
1 May 1916
Foreword
by General Sir Ian Hamilton
As the man who first, seeking to save himself trouble, omitted the five full stops and brazenly coined the word “Anzac”, I am glad to write a line or two in preface to sketches which may help to give currency to that token throughout the realms of glory. Though treating so largely of death, they are life-like; though grim, they do justice also to the gaiety and good humour which never deserted any of our troops in the trenches; though slight, they seem solid and serious enough to such of us as were there. Therefore it is that I wish for these outlines of heroes abiding fame, and hope that many an Australian or New Zealander now unborn will better realise by their aid what a splendid thing it was to have been alive and crusading at Gallipoli in the year of our Lord 1915.
29 April 1916