AUTUMN 2008

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Feature Article

THE GREAT DECEPTION

BY WO1 C.F Clayton

As a palliative to the adverse criticism of the conduct of the campaign freely circulating amongst Government members, Hamilton was relieved of his Command. His successor, General Sir Charles Monro, accustomed to Western Front conditions was absolutely appalled by what he saw.

He had no hesitation in recommending evacuation. He reported, “We merely hold the fringe of the shore, being confronted by Turks in very formidable entrenchments that hold all the advantages of position and observation. Since the flanks of the enemy cannot be turned, only frontal attack is possible. There is no room for the distribution of additional divisions nor is there sufficient space for the deployment of artillery”. General Monro further stated that, with the exception of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, the present garrison was not equal to the task of mounting any heavy action. He did not realise that such assessment of the ANZAC Corps was mainly due to the inclusion of the newly arrived 2nd Australian Division.
Whilst these events were taking place, apart from intensive underground mining, little activity of an offensive nature was occurring at ANZAG. Artillery and sniping duels continued as usual but the major task of the garrison was directed towards preparation for the coming winter. Deep dug-outs were under construction, existing roads and tracks were being improved and new ones cut. Piers and jetties were strengthened and extended. Most of the main lines of communication, being on the floors of valleys and ravines, would be affected by rain water from the surrounding high ground, thus a great deal of labour was expended on the construction of extensive drainage systems.
On the night of 8/9 October, the first serious sign of the oncoming winter arrived in the form of a ferocious storm. Always in the past, winds had blown off the land, but this storm came in from the sea, from the south-east, bringing with It heavy seas. Pounded by the wind and waves, a lighter broke loose from its anchorage, and crashed into the southern jetty, demolishing most of its seaward end.

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