24 April 1915

ANZAC LANDING - As the ANZAC Corps set off for Colonel Ewen Sinclair-MacLagen was aboard the destroyer Colne. He was the man in command of the 3rd Australian Brigade and thus charged with the task of making the first landings north of Gaba Tepe and then covering the landings of the main force. It was a grevious responsibility.


"The commander of the destroyer Colne gave me his bunk, but I simply could not sleep. Although I knew that all the orders for the operations had been clear and most carefully thought out, had we, the Brigade Staff, provided for any and every eventuality? How was Brigade Headquarters to keep in touch with the units of the Brigade scattered over a 4,000 to 5,000 yard front and on foot? If opposition was even only moderately serious, could units keep touch with one another? Was the reserve battalion placed the right position? Were the 'poor' maps issued to us accurate enough to be depended on, especially for the naval covering fire? If that was wire-entanglement in the water [on the] north shore of Gaba Tepe, could the men get through it, or would they be drowned and so leave my right flank open? How could I replace them from the reserve? These and many other thoughts of a similar nature kept me wide awake until we got into the boats for the last few yards to shore."

Source: Armada Moves: Egypt to Gallipoli (Reveille, 31/3/1932), p.59

Photograph: Colonel Ewen Sinclair-MacLagen, GOC 3 Brigade, 1st Australian Division