afightinglife Posted 23 May , 2013 Share Posted 23 May , 2013 Hi everyone, Just wondering what is the most common definition of an "ANZAC Lander"? E.g. is it exclusive to the units ashore on 25th April 1915? My question is specific to 14th battalion AIF. Some of their men landed on 25th April (2 platoons of A Coy, I think) but the remainder landed the next day. The 14th has the battle honour "Landing at ANZAC", but could all men of the 14th considered themselves "Gallipoli/ANZAC landers"? It seems a bit technical/pedantic, but I'm trying to label my great grandfather in the context of the landing and whether or not I can call him a "Lander". If I can, I can rightly claim he is the only enlisted man to have been both a Gallipoli Lander and also fight at the 2nd Battle for Kokoda. I guess I could still correctly claim he is the only enlisted man to be an original ANZAC and also fight at the 2nd battle for Kokoda, but I am interested to hear what your opinions are. Cheers, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moggs Posted 23 May , 2013 Share Posted 23 May , 2013 From a purely personal point of view I say yes, he was a lander. I am biased, though, as my Grandpa was there too and, as he was in A Coy, there was a 50/50 chance he landed on the 25th anyway. From an historical perspective, the 14th were a part of the original landing plan - they belonged to the original ANZAC contingent albeit in reserve - they were in the waters off Anzac Cove on the 25th, they assisted with the wounded coming from the shore and, had the plans worked as hoped, they would have been ashore far earlier than they were and so I believe that they all must be considered as a Gallipoli lander. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilly100 Posted 23 May , 2013 Share Posted 23 May , 2013 Hi Summer Another 4th Brigade unit was the 16th Battalion, these men coming ashore on 25 April in the early evening/late afternoon. However, some 98 odd men under 2 officers, the men being drawn from 1st-3rd reos came ashore early in the morning, around 5.45am, working as a beach fatigue party. I am not as clued up on the other units of the 4th Brigade with respect to the Landing, but am sure the unit war diary, brigade war diary and unit history will assist. For mine, an original 'Lander' is 25 April, although to get everyone ashore for the Landing, took more than the first day.Would be interesting to find what the men who landed after 25 April, but in the first few days, considered themselves in later years (the ones that survived). Cheers and good luck with your book Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auimfo Posted 23 May , 2013 Share Posted 23 May , 2013 I think it's safe to say they were 'at' the landing. They may have been offshore but I know the ship my Grandfather was on came under fire from Turkish artillery. The fact that they were there entitles them to say they participated in the landing. Cheers, Tim L. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crunchy Posted 23 May , 2013 Share Posted 23 May , 2013 Reminds me of an encounter a friend had in Eden, NSW, many years ago. Visiting the local museum he came upon on elderly guide, who in conversation mentioned he landed at Anzac on 25th April. Mightily impressed my friend called his children over and said 'I'd like to meet this gentleman - he was an original Anzac." At this the old man snorted "I wasn't an original Anzac!!" Said friend queried him "But you said you landed at Anzac on 25th April." The elderly gentlemen replied. " I did, but I wasn't an original Anzac, my battalion didn't get ashore until 8am." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForeignGong Posted 23 May , 2013 Share Posted 23 May , 2013 Hi I have always had two versions. 1. A first day lander. 2. A lander, that's everyone else who came after Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afightinglife Posted 29 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 29 May , 2013 Thanks all for your perspectives. Very interesting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Pine2 Posted 29 May , 2013 Share Posted 29 May , 2013 I know that the 4th Battalion (my Grandad's batalion) landed between 11am and 12 pm on the 25th April, I was always lead to believe that they were in reserve and once they landed there was no more reserves left. Have I got this wrong, can someone clarify this for me thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crunchy Posted 29 May , 2013 Share Posted 29 May , 2013 Lonepine 2, The 4th Battalion landed in two groups. The first two companies were ashore by 8am, and the last two landed after midday. By 4:30pm the battalion was the only reserve left in the 1st Division. The Otago Battalion was also in reserve but was part of the NZ Brigade(NZ&A Division). At 4:55pm Bridges sent the 4th to Bolton's Ridge. It was from Bolton's that the battalion made its ill conceived and disastrous advance north across the 400 Plateau between the opposing lines late afternoon on 26th April. Cheers Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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