File:'The Homecoming from Gallipoli', 15 July 1915 by Walter Armiger Bowring (11456475685).jpg

On 9 January 1916, the eight month long Gallipoli Campaign finally ended with the evacuation of the last British troops from the area. Aiming to secure a sea route to Russia and to capture the Ottoman capital of Constantinople, Allied troops landed at several places along the Turkish peninsula on 25 April 1915. However many were landed in the wrong positions meaning the campaign began at a disadvantage. Following this, only tentative advances were made inland and the next eight months resulted in high casualties on both sides due to the exposed terrain, weather and closeness of the front lines. In addition, many casualties resulted from an epidemic of dysentery, caused by poor sanitary conditions. The New Zealand Wellington Battalion reached, and briefly occupied, the Chunuk Bair summit before being beaten back by Turkish troops. The subsequent Allied withdrawal meant an end to the idea of defeating the Ottoman Empire quickly.

The ANZAC forces completed their retreat by 19 December 1915 and the remaining British forces departed the following January. The campaign is often referred to for its successful stealthy retreat, which was completed with minimal casualties. However the total number of Allied deaths in the campaign were 43,000 British, 15,000 French, 8,700 Australians, 2,700 New Zealanders and 1,370 Indians. Total Turkish deaths were around 60,000. New Zealanders suffered the highest percentage of Allied deaths when compared with population size, but the percentage of Turkish deaths was almost twice theirs.

This 1916 painting by Walter Armiger Bowring is titled ‘The Homecoming from Gallipoli’, and is part of the National Collection of War Art. It depicts the return of the first group of wounded New Zealand soldiers from Gallipoli, aboard the SS Willochra to Wellington on 15 July 1915. Bowring’s painting depicts the poignant loss-of-innocence moment when civilian New Zealanders first confronted the grim reality of wounds, amputations and psychological trauma. The painting is dominated by a seemingly unending line of bandaged men in khaki limping down from the ship into a crowd of anxious civilians. Flags and coloured streamers hang limply, suggesting that the waiting families had expected a celebration, not a column of exhausted men.

Archives reference: AAAC 898 149 / NCWA 532 www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=22498362

This painting, as well as other items from the Archives New Zealand War Art Collection, can be viewed online at the following link - www.warart.archives.govt.nz/

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