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Post by australia on May 18, 2011 9:16:51 GMT
Landing at Anzac Cove
25 April 1915
Anzac Cove Sitting with the first wave of boats, Alex sat watching dead ahead for the shoreline. Though he had been ‘advised’ to stay with the battleships, there was no way in hell he was going to sit back and relax as his men risked their lives for him. He made it very clear that he was going to shore with them and nothing on this earth could stop him. Eventually he was given permission to go on the mission to be canon fodder, but Alex remained ignorant to the last part. Holding his gun firmly in his hands, Alex stared solemnly now directly ahead anticipating what was to come. According to the plan the landing wasn’t going to be too bad. A few soldiers might get shot down but the beach’s geography meant that it wasn’t going to be hard securing it and making camp. Or that was the plan at least. The boats of the first wave were all relying on each other to lead them on course which in hindsight probably wasn’t a good idea. As one on the boats veered off, other began to follow on wards in the same direction. Tearing his gaze from where he could now just make out a headland, Alex leant back and whispered to the nearest officer. “What’s goin’ on, mate? Isn’t that Gaba Thingamajig?”“I thought so too, but everyone is moving that way so we might as well follow.” The officer looked just as confused as he was so Alex decided to let it slide. They couldn’t all be going off in the wrong direction, right? After a few minutes of tense and confused silence, another headland was sighted up head. As they got closer it seemed to be the right place but only when they were close enough to land, Alex realised something was off. The beach was far too narrow and the geography was all off. He could sense the confusion coming off waves from everyone. This wasn’t Gaba Tepe. If they had just been a bit further back they might have had a chance to retreat and look for where they were supposed to be but it was too late. The enemy, damn turks, had spotted them and the loud sounds of machine gun and rifle fire whizzed through the air. One of the soldier, Cpl. Stratford or something like that, had jumped off his boat and charged only to get shot down by enemy fire. They couldn’t retreat now. Not with a man down and what looked like several others jumping off and into the water. This wasn’t quite what the plan said but it would have to do. Alex checked his gun one more time, took off most of his heavy equipment and jumped off into the water. Taking a brief second to adjust to the water, he began his long wade to reach the shore while being shot at.
Notes things that I always forget to do -The first wave of boats got misdirected and due to something that no one is quite certain of (I just went with the most popular theory), so we ended up at ANZAC Cove instead of Gaba Tepe where we were meant to be -Australians were the first to land at the cove -Cpl. Stratford was the first Australian to jump off the boat and charge into attack but his attempt was short lived -At the landing there was major confusion amongst the soldiers because we landed in the wrong place the geography was different from what was expected, the troops couldn't figure out what was the objective and where the enemy was but we still charged. That's Aussies for you~ |
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Post by theottomanempire on Jun 1, 2011 19:25:06 GMT
The war had erupted in what can only be described as an expected volcanic eruption. The signs had been there for years and the world was just waiting for the explosion that would initiate the bloodshed that would always be remembered as the war that changed warfare forever. No one had expected to hide in trenches or to be bombarded with poisonous gases and daily bombings. Then again, no one really expected the war to last past December but clearly they were wrong. Peace could be found nowhere and even the continents who were virtually unaffected by the conflict were drawn into it.
The Ottoman Empire was losing its edge and with its poor rulers constantly making bad decisions it seemed to be digging its own grave. Sadik could feel it in his very core, the pain of losing a new territory every day, the loss of respect….the sick man of Europe. He was no longer the empire that invoked so much fear in the nations around him. The Ottoman Empire was a joke and so when Germany came to them in secret could he really refuse what they had to offer. There was a chance that with this war, things that had been undone could easily be restored. He could probably gain back his lost territories (maybe gain more) and dismantle the other countries around them. And, another reason he joined the central powers was mainly because they opposed the Russians. The tall pale man, for over a century, has been waging war against him for territories that clearly did not belong to Russia.
However, things had gone a little sourer than he had first anticipated. The fact that at the moment the enemy he was worried about was not the enemy he had been expecting to fight. Even though, really, in a war and especially if you`re facing several nations rather than one, one should expect anyone to attack. The British Empire just wasn`t someone he had ever thought to come and take his lands but right now the man was giving him one hell of a time. It also didn`t help that his military was disorganized and no one was really listening to anyone and to top it off many of his battalions were being annihilated leaving no one to fend the territory that was slowly being consumed by the blue, red and white flag.
Sadik felt stupid. The British were already in Egypt and now they were coming for the Dardanelles. If he hadn`t been angered by the uselessness of his government he probably could have seen this coming and now standing on one of the hills watching the battle ships make their way towards them Sadik could only curse to himself as he observed them longer. These weren`t the first and they would not be the last if they didn`t act fast.
His attention turned to Mustafa Kemal. This man, for some reason, interested Sadik very much. There was something about him that screamed greatness and he was curious to see what the future would bring for this man. It was often the Ottoman Empire found interest in a mortal but when he did he tended to keep a closer eye on them. There had been quite a few times he had spoken to Kemal and the ideas that came from the man were captivating. This man made it seem as if he had the solution to cure the pain he was feeling. Unfortunately, at this rate, he wasn`t sure if the man would even survive this slaughter since Turkish men seemed to be dropping like flies against the British army. Although, there was a look in this man`s eyes that said otherwise and Sadik put a lot of hope in him but would not be completely demoralized if he were to die in battle. It would be a valiant and honourable death to say the least.
Yet, as the Australians disembarked and proceeded to run onto the beach, Turkish soldiers were quick to fire upon them sending many to rest eternally. The tall Turk smiled briefly before remembering that these were all innocent men who did not deserve such a fate but once again if it came to taking territory from him then such a fate would be inevitable. Sadik picked up his rifle and steadying it began to fire on the incoming enemy. This is where it was going to end.
Sorry for the long delay but here it is! Let me know if you want me to add, fix or get rid of certain things in my post. >D
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Post by australia on Jun 9, 2011 12:48:35 GMT
It was hard and bloody. As if dodging enemy fire and firing back when you could barely see them wasn’t hard enough, they had the height advantage and Alex’s troops had to wade through water. The water was icy and pulled on him downwards and a graze from a shot on his arm stung when the salt water splashed in waves against him. But he was considerable better off than the men that floated face on the water’s surface, staining it red.
With every man that fell, Alex felt pained. Whether it was mentally or physically, he couldn’t tell. All he knew was it hurt to watch helplessly as his men got cut down by the Turkish troops. But deep inside he couldn’t blame the Turks, they were just doing their jobs but why did they have to do it so bloody well?
No! Alex thought. Bloody hell, I need to stop thinking about this. I need to get to shore. Claim the land and just make it through till the second wave comes. But Alex knew that to get the second wave here, they needed to take the hill for themselves. And with the Turks on the hill firing down at them, it was going to be no easy task. This was war and he was on the side that seemed to be suffering a major dose of bad luck. But England had assured him that it was important that he secured this land in the name of the British Empire. He had told Alex that he was helping the war effort considerably if he managed to secure this patch of land so he endured on. For king and country.
After a torturous wade to the beach, he was finally free of the icy clutches of the water and on land. If he had been in any other situation he would have kissed the ground and exclaimed God bless the King but now he couldn’t. He had more important matters on hand that required his full attention. Now began the ascent to take control of the hills and drive the Turkish troops back.
The men were all confused and scrambling once they reached the beach. Mainly since all the officers had lost track of their units in the mad scramble to reach the beach alive. Some officers were giving out orders while shooting at the Turkish troops but so close to the enemy guns and everyone sending out different orders, nothing was getting done. The sound of machines drowned out everyone’s voices and the conflicted orders just confused further.
Then a few soldiers grew some initiative and started the hike to the top of the hill. This was like a catalyst, triggering all the other men to follow and fight their way up the fire heavy hill. Alex, however waited on the shore, helping up anyone he could. Trying to stuff the wounded in places they weren’t likely to get shot, too many times. It was a rather pointless idea but he had to do something. So he did.
Once at least half his troops made it up the hill, Alex joined them. He hiked the climb with countless other fellow Aussie men, all climbing with grim smiles. They were all going to make it up to the top and nothing short of death was going to stop them.
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New Zealand
Member
Land of the Long White Cloud
Posts: 93
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Post by New Zealand on Jun 24, 2011 9:52:59 GMT
Will felt like he and his men had been sitting in their boat for hours. Like Alex, he had insisted on going with his men to fight, and he would've been constantly kicking himself if he'd chosen safety over backing up his brother. Will had been placed as part of the Auckland Battalion, and for some reason the trip to shore seemed so slow.
It had been decided that Alex and the majority of his men would go as the first wave of troops, and establish a foothold, and that Will, his men, and the rest of the Australians would provide the second wave of troops to reinforce the first and hopefully help take more land before the day was out. He didn't expect this campaign to be a one day operation. He didn't expect it to be a one week, or even one month operation. For all he knew, achieving this objective could take a year or more.
The sun had already come up, and they were on course to the Turkish mainland. They had no idea what was going on or what to expect at this point. As the boats got closer to the shore Will saw boats full of wounded soldiers being taken back in the opposite direction. People getting hurt was part of war, but feeling all of those hurt people must be really hard for Alex. He wished the boats would move faster so he could get to shore and help.
"How far from shore are we now?" Will asked one of the other officers.
"Not far off now." Was the reply he received. They had swapped from the destroyers to the barges a little while ago, and now they were getting closer to the battlefield itself. Will was seeing more boats filled with wounded soldiers now, and while he hoped his own people wouldn't be needing those boats's services he knew at least some of them inevitably would.
Finally, they reached the shore. The Turkish gunners were constantly firing on them as they got off the boats and arrived onshore. Will's battalion was given their main objective: to take and hold Walker's Ridge. He and his men were lucky: where they landed gave them an easier climb to the ridge, but they still had the gunners to contend with. They started to make their way to Walker's Ridge now, shooting at the enemy when they got a free moment to do so, and tried to dodge enemy fire as they went.
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