oli. A campaign which was doomed from the start, achieved nothing, wiped out 85, 000 men and wounded another 20, 000 .
             In light of these facts, the question must be asked, how do we explain the choice? "It came at the right time" believes Bill Gammage (An Australian War Historian) . For Gammage Anzac day fills a hole in Australia's identity. It came at a time when national insecurities, or adolescent doubt questioned whether the newly federated nation was capable of performing creditably on the world stage.
             The ANZAC myth reassured the Australian people that their place in world politics was warranted.
             However this does not explain the romantic images of the tough, cheerful, fearless Anzac. Much can be attributed to war reports at the time, which provided a glorious focus of nationalist sentiment, describing the bloody battle as a sport. British journalist Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett wrote, 'Australians rose to the occasion. Not waiting for orders, or for the boats to reach the beach they sprang into the sea an forming a sort of rough line they rushed at the enemy .' He continues, 'The Australians then proceeded to the end of the 40 yards of beach, which they were met by the most perpendicular cliff and more terrible fire from the Turks. Here was a tough proposition to tackle in the darkness, but those colonials; practical above all else went about it in a practical way. The Australians stopped to pull themselves together...then this race of athletes proceeded to scale the cliffs.' He continues to give a commentary of the landing and finishes with 'These raw colonial troops in these desperate hours proved worthy to fight side by side with the heroes of Mons, the Aisne, Ypres and Neuve Chapelle. '
             Through Ashmead-Bartletts single report of the landing, a great tragedy and military bundle was turned into a celebration of Australia's 'magnificent achievement.' ...