Description
Before dawn broke over Gallipoli, the soldiers of the 11th Battalion had already entered one of the most brutal campaigns of the First World War.
Drawing on personal letters, diaries, and historical records, At Dawn They Landed tells the remarkable story of the 11th Australian Infantry Battalion from its formation in Western Australia to the battlefields that would test the courage and endurance of an entire generation.
The men who joined the battalion came from all walks of life—farmers, laborers, tradesmen, and clerks who left their homes, families, and futures behind to serve their country. Their journey first led them to Egypt, where months of training and anticipation prepared them for a conflict unlike anything they had imagined.
Everything changed on 25 April 1915. As part of the first wave to reach Anzac Cove, the battalion faced fierce resistance and overwhelming conditions from the moment they landed. Amid confusion, gunfire, and heavy casualties, they fought to establish a foothold on the rugged Gallipoli coastline. Yet Gallipoli was only the beginning of their wartime experience.
Throughout the campaign, the battalion participated in several major operations, demonstrating extraordinary determination under some of the harshest conditions of the war. By the campaign’s conclusion, very few of the men who had stepped ashore that April morning remained with the unit. Many had been killed, wounded, or weakened by the relentless hardships of battle.
Central to this story is the famous “pyramid” photograph, which captured the battalion assembled before the Great Pyramid near Cairo. The image preserved a moment of youthful optimism before the realities of war forever altered their lives.
Historian James Hurst brings these soldiers back into focus through years of dedicated research, uncovering previously unpublished firsthand accounts from family archives, military records, cemeteries, and battlefields. Their voices provide a deeply personal perspective on the experiences, sacrifices, and resilience of those who served.
More than a military history, At Dawn They Landed is a tribute to ordinary men who endured extraordinary circumstances. Through careful scholarship and compelling storytelling, the book explores not only the battles they fought but also the lasting human impact of war, ensuring that the legacy of the 11th Battalion continues to be remembered for generations to come.
Praised for its engaging narrative and meticulous research, this work offers readers an unforgettable look at the lives behind the history and the courage that carried them through one of the defining conflicts of the twentieth century.
At Dawn They Landed
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