EVACUATION OF GALLIPOLI
The evacuation of Gallipoli was regarded as the most successful operation of the war as there were no casualties.
The failures in August 1915 meant that success could not be achieved at Gallipoli. A visit from Field Marshall Lord Kitchener in November prompted a decision to withdraw all Allied Troops from the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Over the 11 nights from the 8th to the 20th of December 1915, 90 000 troops were evacuated from ANZAC and Suvla Bays. To disguise their departure from Gallipoli, self-firing guns were set up along the Allied trenches. The men who were left also fired shots spasmodically in addition to these guns. Numerous theories exist to explain when the Turks realised the Allied troops had left Gallipoli.
Did You Know?
|
When the allied troops left Gallipoli they were careful to tread lightly so their fallen comrades would not hear them leaving. |
|
The self-firing guns were set up by having an empty can attached by a string to the trigger of the guns and a can above dripped water into this. When the lower can filled up, the weight caused the guns to fire. |
|
One story suggests that the Turks mounted an attack on the Allied trenches at Gallipoli the day after the troops had left, to find the trenches empty. |
|
Another theory suggests that the Turks knew that the Allied troops were leaving Gallipoli, however, they wanted their opponents to leave and hence continued to fire as usual. |