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The ANZAC Book
This CD-ROM includes a reproduction of this 1916 publication.

Editor's note: This book of Anzac was produced in the lines at Anzac on Gallipoli in the closing weeks of 1915. Practically every word in it was written and every line drawn beneath the shelter of a waterproof sheet or of a roof of sandbags--either in the trenches or, at most, well within the range of the oldest Turkish rifle, and under daily visitations from the smallest Turkish field-piece.

Day and night, during the whole process of its composition~ the crack of the Mauser bullets overhead never ceased. At least one good soldier that we know of, who was preparing a contribution for these pages, met his death while the work was still unfinished.

The ANZAC Book was to have been a New Year Magazine to help this little British Australasian fraternity in Turkey to while away the long winter in the trenches. The idea originated with Major S. S. Butler, of the A.N.Z.A.C. Staff. On his initiative and that of Lieutenant H. E. Woods a small committee was formed to father the magazine.

A notice was circulated on November 11th calling for contributions front the whole population of Anzac. Any profit was to go to patriotic funds for the benefit of the Army Corps.

Between November 15th and December 8th, when the time for the sending in of contributions closed, The ANZAC Book was produced. As drawings and paintings began to come in, disclosing the whereabouts of some of the talent which existed in Anzac, a small staff of artists was collected in order to produce head- and tail-pieces and a few illustrations; and a dug-out overlooking Anzac Cove became the office of the only book ever likely to be produced in Gallipoli.

It was after the contributions had been finally sent in, and when the work of editing was in full swing, that there came upon most of us front the sky the news that Anzac was to be evacuated. Such finishing touches as remained to be added after December 19th were given to the work in Imbros. The date for the publication was necessarily delayed. And it was realised by everyone that this production, which was to have been a mere pastime, had now become hundred times more precious as a souvenir. Certainly no book has ever been produced under these conditions before.

A classic icon of Australia's baptism of fire at Gallipoli the Anzac Book makes a lasting impression reflecting the spirit of the men now long gone who experienced the tragedy of the campaign in the Dardenelles. The Diggers went onto fight 3 more years of a ceaseless and devastating war of attrition. How many of the men who contributed to this book survived can be surmised by the the sad fact that two thirds of Australia's fighting men were killed or wounded in the war. A tragic waste of a generation. This book serves as their memorial.
Profusely illustrated this book provides a classic insight into the world of the Digger. Introductions by General Birdwood and CEW Bean. Profusely illustrated, a real treasure of Australian Military History. Photos of the peninsula and troops in the field. The entire original ANZAC book captured with great clarity and preserved in PDF format.
Note: this ebook collection includes a range of contemporary reports and documents and an overview of the Dardanelles campaign (illustrated and over 65 pages in length). There is a lot more than the fantastic ANZAC book to read and view. For example:
Includes short biographies of General Birdwood, General Sir John Monash, Lord Kitchener, General Ian Hamilton and CEW Bean.
Ashmead-Bartlett's report from 8 May 1915 on the Australasians Glorious Entry into the War.
As well the first report from CEW Bean published in the Sydney Morning Herald on May 15 1915 headed How the Australians Fought Imperishable Fame which describes the landing and assault.
Also a facsimile of the Commonwealth Of Australia Gazette of 17 May 1915 which outlines in detail the landing at Gallipoli and the Commonwealth Of Australia Gazette of 10 January 1916 which describes the evacuation.
Plus General Monash's report on the evacuation dated 12 December 1915.
A selection of colour propaganda posters of the campaign.
A report by US Ambassador Henry Morgenthau on the failure of the Anglo-Franch assault on the Dardanelles dated 18 March 1915. Also a report by journalist Henry Nevinson on the Anglo-French setback dated the same day.
A copy of Ashmead-Bartlett's explosive letter to Prime Minister Asquith on the prosepcts for the campaign dated 18 September 1915.
322 pages and many photographs and colour illustrations. A great memento of the campaign.

Available in PDF for Windows and Mac

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