Five Months at Anzac

Description

As stated in its subtitle, “Five Months at Anzac” is a narrative of personal experience, written by Joseph Lievesley Beeston (1859 – 1921), who was in the Australian Army Medical Corps on 25 April 1915, when the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed at Gallipoli. That day remained until today one of the most important national occasions celebrated in Australia, because the country (which was very young at that moment) wanted to make a reputation, by siding with the Commonwealth and knocking Turkey out of the war, leaving Germany without a strong ally. It didn’t work as planned and Australia has lost more than 8,000 soldiers in that campaign, which lasted 8 months. But the Anzac legend left a legacy, becoming an important part of the identity of Australia and New Zeeland alike.

Beeston narrates his experience, starting December 1914, when he left for Australia and until Gallipoli, where he participated but only during the first five months, because after that he became too ill; he really came home at the whim of fate. Being a biography, the accent is on the little details that the author recalls; everything else – the journey, his reactions etc. – goes in the background. The narrative line is as strong as it can be in a biography, but remains still impressive and makes you wonder how someone could handle the reality of the First World War and live to write about the horror of being surrounded by death, seeing people hit by a shell, or dealing with horrific injuries.

The book is dedicated to all the loyal people of the 4th field ambulance. It is a good lecture for everyone who wishes to know how it felt to experience the struggle and horrors of the Great War.
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