The thoughts and memories of New Zealand men who survived the Gallipoli conflict of World War I. Author Maurice Shadbolt interviewed veterans in 1982. This programme is based on transcripts of those interviews. It is introduced by Maurice Shadbolt, who describes the process of interviewing the few remaining Gallipoli survivors.
[Note: There is no actuality of the veterans in this programme which is a radio dramatization of Maurice Shadbolt's book, with the men's recollections read by actors.]
The men whose recollections are heard, re-told by actors:
Dan Curham, commissioned for bravery while serving with Wellington Infantry Battalion
George Skerrett of Bluff, a member of the Medical Corps with the Otago Battalion
Tony Fagan, Auckland Infantry Regiment, who was in the first New Zealand boat ashore on Gallipoli
Joe Gasparich, Sergeant, Auckland Infantry Regiment who recalls the fatal charges across the 'Daisy Patch'
Henry Lewis, Otago Regiment, who recalls an assault at the beginning of May which claimed his friend
Bill East, of Havelock
Russell Weir, Headquarters staff of the New Zealand Infantry Brigade and also Wellington Infantry Regiment at Quinn's Post
Charlie Clark, Wellington Infantry Regiment
Vic Nicholson, Wellington Infantry Regiment
Harvey Johns, Wellington Infantry Regiment
They recall the burial armistice, dysentery, lice, suicides, cremating bodies in the trenches of Quinn's Post, Colonel Malone, the lack of food and water supplies.
The August offensive on Chunuk Bair is remembered, including the haka by the Māori forces as they moved up through the trenches capturing Turks.
Two British commanders ordered the Wellington Infantry Regiment to move up in the daylight but Colonel Malone countered their order and told the British they would wait until night. One man claims two Wellington officers shot themselves in the leg so they could avoid the attack.
Vic Nicholson recalls the death of his friend Teddy Charles on Chunuk Bair.
The New Zealand Mounted Rifles attack on Hill 60 is recalled as being poorly planned.
Maurice Shadbolt gives an account of the statistics of dead and casualties and reflects on Gallipoli's role in developing New Zealand nationalism.
The men recall how they came to leave Gallipoli and how it impacted on the rest of their lives.
Maurice Shadbolt describes the New Zealand memorial on Chunuk Bair today.