Landing plans

Gallipoli Landing plans; General Sir Ian Hamilton, in charge of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, had about a month to finalise plans for the landing of troops on the rough coastline of the Gallipoli Peninsula. There was much improvisation in the weeks preceding the landings and little time to practise.

It would be a tough task for Hamilton's force. It had evolved in an ad hoc fashion and was not even fully equipped, especially in ammunition. There was a degree of complacency, most importantly, about the ability of the Turkish defenders to counter an attack.

The grand plan; General Sir Ian Hamilton, in charge of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, had about a month to finalise plans for the landing of troops on the rough coastline of the Gallipoli Peninsula. There was much improvisation in the weeks preceding the landings and little time to practise.

It would be a tough task for Hamilton's force. It had evolved in an ad hoc fashion and was not even fully equipped, especially in ammunition. There was a degree of complacency, most importantly, about the ability of the Turkish defenders to counter an attack.

Landing schedule

The force's main focus would be the southern part of the peninsula at Cape Helles and Sedd el Bahr. The 29th Division would land there on five separate beaches, and the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps would make a subsidiary landing, about 20 kilometres up the coast, north of Gaba Tepe. The Australians and New Zealanders would seize the southern part of the Sari Bair ridge before advancing across the peninsula to Maidos. From there they could mount a threat to the Kilid Bahr plateau from the rear. The French division would, meanwhile, make a temporary landing at Kum Kale on the Asian side of the peninsula. This would prevent Turkish gunners there from bombarding the troops landing at Helles. To divert Turkish attention, the Royal Naval Division would make a sham attack at Bulair, at the narrow neck of the peninsula.

The landings were originally scheduled to take place on 23 April. Weather delayed them for two days. The first ashore were to be the Anzacs. The 3rd Australian Brigade would land before dawn and advance to Gun Ridge. Following them, the 2nd Australian Brigade would occupy the Sari Bair ridge as far as Hill 971. The 1st Australian Division's remaining brigade would land by 9 a.m.

With the covering force in place, the New Zealand and Australian Division would then land, and the drive across the peninsula would begin. From Lemnos, the troops would be carried to the landing zone on warships (in the case of the 3rd Brigade) or on merchant ships, loaded into ships' boats and towed inshore by steamboats and, eventually, rowed to the beaches. They would come ashore on a 2700-metre front with their left south of Ari Burnu on what was later dubbed Brighton Beach.