PANEL 8

EVACUATION

I hope our poor pals who lie all around us sleep soundly, and do not stir in discontent as we go filing away from them forever.
New Zealand soldier at the evacuation of Gallipoli

After August, the British mounted no further major attacks at Gallipoli. The British Government grew alarmed at the failure to break through to the Dardanelles and there was mounting criticism of the whole venture. In November, when winter arrived, there were men who froze at their posts and over 16,000 troops suffering from frostbite and exposure had to be evacuated. Eventually it was decided that the campaign could not meet its objectives and the British and Dominion force on Gallipoli should withdraw.
Many thought a withdrawal would result in heavy casualties. However, elaborate precautions were taken to deceive the Turks into thinking nothing unusual was happening.

Between 8 and 20 December 1915, 90,000 men were secretly embarked from Suvla and Anzac. On 8 and 9 January 1916 a similar evacuation was conducted at Helles. Only a handful of casualties were suffered in these well-executed operations.

Williams Pier, North Beach, Gallipoli, December 1915, with the Sphinx in the background. At this time the preparations for the evacuation of the Australian and New Zealand troops from Anzac were well under way.
(Australian War Memorial C01621)