In March 1915, Churchill’s ill-fated campaign in the Dardanelles was launched. The British and French fleets were to force their way through to Istanbul in an attempt to drive Turkey out of the war and help our hard pressed Russian ally. However, the abortive naval attacks alerted the Turks who moved troops to the threatened area and built defensive positions. Thus when it was decided to land infantry on the beaches, to advance and take the Gallipoli peninsula, they met fierce and unexpected opposition. On 25th April, under General Sir Ian Hamilton, a British force landed at Cape Helles and the ANZAC Corps on the West coast. Casualties were high and every attempt to move forward was defeated by the resolute Turkish defenders. The allies dug in. A second landing at Suvla in August, in support of a major ANZAC offensive, made no progress and the battlefield settled into a hell of thirst, flies, snipers, shelling and disease. By the autumn it was clear the entire operation had failed and in December the evacuation began. In contrast with the conduct of operations the evacuation was a masterpiece of efficiency. The campaign had been notable for the courage and endurance shown by both sides and a visit to these largely unchanged landscapes is a memorable experience.

With Dr. Graham Dunlop we will stand overlooking the Dardanelles and re-live the naval struggle in the clear waters below, take a boat trip along the Aegean shore to get an ‘expeditionary force’ view of the terrain and study the landing and battles of the campaign. We follow the fortunes of the 29th Division whose battalions landed on the beaches around Cape Helles and fought the battles of Krithia under the guns of Achi Baba. The ANZACS landed north of Gaba Tepe at what is now ANZAC Cove. Their experiences in the gullies and ravines have become legendary. The second landing in the north at Suvla was ineffective and frustrating. You will visit much of this barren battlefield rising above the blue Aegean Sea with its emotive names like Helles, Krithia, ‘V’ Beach, Lancashire Landing, The Nek and Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair and Suvla Bay.

The Gallipoli peninsular is a rugged but beautiful area of the Western Mediterranean. We will stay in the lively town of Cannakale, where we will enjoy a variety of local food in some of the local restaurants.

ITINERARY
Day 1 (Saturday): Fly London – Istanbul. Drive to our hotel in Cannakale on the Asiatic coast for dinner and a 5 night stay.
Day 2: We begin with a visit the Dardanos Battery and discuss the failure of the powerful British and French fleets, the mining of the straights which sank 3 battleships, and see, in the Naval Museum, one of the small minelayers which were responsible for so much damage. Picnic lunch. Boat trip along the Landing Beaches. Dinner in our hotel.
Day 3: The British at Cape Helles – including landings at S beach, at V Beach from the River Clyde, at W Beach with its 6 VCs. We will discuss the French landing and visit the French cemetery and our memorial to the missing at Helles. After lunch we move north to see X Beach, Gully Ravine and the area of the Krithia battles, returning to Cannakale in time to stroll down the harbour where we will have dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 4: The ANZAC corps. We begin with the landings at what is now Anzac Cove, see the Sphinx and Plugges Plateau before moving on to the cemetery at the Nek where the graves of 25th April reflect the courage of the first day. Along the ridge we will visit Lone Pine, Johnsons Jolly and look down towards Monash Valley. There are so many places to visit along the ridge and we will see as much as possible before we have to return across the Dardanelles. Tonight we will find our own dinner choosing a local restaurant the appeals to us.
Day 5: Our morning in the Suvla Bay area will include the landing, Hill 60 and Green Hill with a view of the Kirech Tepe Ridge Picnic lunch. In the afternoon we explore the heights of Chunuk Bair, look down on the Dardanelles and consider the almost-successful attack by New Zealanders, British and Gurkhas and near-suicidal charge by Colonel Mustapha Kemal’s 19th division which regained the heights. Dinner in our hotel.
Day 6: Return to Istanbul for the return flight to London.