Talk #258

Years ago I saw a movie made by the Australians, a story about the Australia/New Zealand troops at the Battle of Gallipoli. It was a highly acclaimed movie, but I slept through it. In the end I did not really saw it, I 'slept" it.

Last August a bunch of Lighters sailed from Greece to Turkey via the Sea of Marmara. It was about 6 AM in the morning when the ship announced that we were sailing through the Strait of Gallipoli. I got up too late and only caught a glimpse of the Strait. Since I had only a vague memory of battle of Gallipoli, I asked Peter Tong what he remembered about Gallipoli. Peter knew a great deal more than I did. He reminded me that the British were beat badly by the Turks in the Battle of Gallipoli.

Tonight I had the good fortune of watching a PBS historic drama entitled " All the King's men". It was a British made program about the entire Norfolks regiment inexplicably disappeared in Gallipoli in 1915.

In historic record, it stated: Aug 12, 1915 The 5th Norfolks disappear during a fruitless attack at Suvla and enter history as "the Vanished Battalion".

"Gallipoli" to Britain is similar to Vietnam to the US. Some 85 years ago, a small nation defeated the most powerful empire on Land and at sea. The British Navy was never the same since.

The British, French, Australians and the New Zealanders eventually evacuated from the Gallipoli Peninsula without too many casualties. It was portrayed as a great victory. It was not to be for the US, largely due to TV coverage. It was not possible to call it anything else but defeat.

I would like to urge Dennis Su, a military history buff, to tell us more about the tragic ending for "All The King's men", the Battle of Gallipoli and the GREAT WAR.