PANEL 3
KRITHIA
Sir, this is a sheer waste of good men.
Joseph Gasparich
New Zealand soldier, Krithia, 8 May 1915
Also on 25 April the British landed at Cape Helles, the southern point of
the Gallipoli peninsula. This force was to push north to the Kilitbahir plateau.
However, determined Turkish opposition held the British to a small area at
the tip of the peninsula. In an attempt to break out of the position at Helles,
seize the village of Krithia and the commanding hill, Achi Baba, a combined
assault by British, Australian, New Zealand and French troops was planned
to begin on 6 May.
Little initial progress was made and on 8 May the Australians and New Zealanders
were ordered forward. Moving over open and exposed ground towards Krithia
(Alitepe), the troops found the enemy fire so accurate and intense that some
men raised their shovels in front of their faces to protect themselves. However,
the Turkish lines were not reached and over 1,000 Australian and 800 New Zealand
soldiers were killed or wounded.
The Charge of the 2nd Infantry Brigade (Australian) at Krithia (detail)
by Charles Wheeler. (Australian War Memorial)