Gallipoli Revisited

The landing at Gallipoli has long been described as the moment that Australia proved itself as a nation; and in the years since the ill fated battle, the word Gallipoli has become synonymous with bravery, courage and the Australian spirit.

But how is it that we know so much about this famous battle, and how is it that so many artefacts survive today, telling their story in museums all over Australia? For the main part, it's thanks to famous Australian war correspondent and historian Charles Bean.

C. E. W. Bean's correspondence from WWI made him a household name amongst Australians. Less known is the role he played the establishment of Australian War Memorial. Even while working as the official war correspondent during the 1915 Gallipoli campaign, he began collecting records, artefacts and soldiers' stories, with the aim of someday establishing Australia's first national war museum.

In 1919 Bean had the opportunity to return to Gallipoli to fill in the missing pieces of what happened during the campaign. He brought together a team of artists to accompany him on what he called the Australian Historical Mission. Their aim was to collect battlefield relics and create new artworks to convey the full story of the power, trauma and tragedy of that terrible conflict.

This book shares the story of the Australian Historical Mission for the first time, tracing the steps from its formation through to their work in Gallipoli and the journey home again. Interwoven throughout is a thought-provoking exploration of the connections between art, landscape and history, and their lasting impact on the way Australians remember the 1915 ANZAC campaign as well as the beginnings of the Australian War Museum and the ANZAC legend itself.

About the Author

Janda Gooding is a Senior Curator of Art at the Australian War Memorial, and was previously a Curator at the Art Gallery of Western Australia. She is the author of eight books and winner of numerous awards including the Gordon Darling Foundation Travel Grant 2007.