Beyond the textbook: Gallipoli in WWI

Beyond the textbook: Gallipoli in WWI
An Internet Hotlist on Gallipoli

created by Lynda McArdle
Lilydale High School

Introduction | Gallipoli on film | Conditions at Gallipoli | Looking at the evidence | Emotions

Introduction
In our Year 10 History class, we have been have been studying World War 1, focusing on Gallipoli and the role of the Australian forces. We have seen the movie “Gallipoli” directed by Peter Weir, starring Mel Gibson and Mark Lee, and now students will use this hotlist to explore further aspects of Australia’s involvement in this theatre of war.

Your Task:
Below you will find a series of links. Use the headings given above as the layout of your assignment and answer the questions using the links. In this assignment you will view pictures, text and graphics to explore the experience of Australians during this conflict. You should use full sentences in answering the questions. You will draw on your knowledge of the topic, but usually the questions can be answered using only the websites indicated. Your background knowledge gives you the basis to understand what the websites are showing.
Be specific when answering the questions, giving examples from the websites. Quantifying where possible enhances your answers leading to better marks.

Key terms are concepts associated with a topic. Some of these aspects we will be looking at include mateship, loyalty and duty.
These aspects are things which are intangible (you can’t see or touch them) but lie at the root of understanding this topic about why Australians found themselves at Gallipoli in 1915-1916. Key terms that you will need to know include AIF (Australian Imperial Forces), ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), and Armistice (temporary suspension of hostilities to discuss peace). Note down others as you work. Keywords are important because they help you quickly and easily find information.

Remember to use your information literacy skills as you work. In working with websites you should look well at each site and note any headings, drop down menus and possibly links to other sites which may extend your understanding. In this assignment, however, only follow the directions given for each site with its question. This will keep you on track. Your information literacy skills will help you understand, analyse and use print sources. Your media literacy will help you apply these skills to images and multimedia presentations. (Kajder, 2003). Refer to our library website for more about information literacy, and you can use this with online material too. Remember to identify headers and keywords and use note taking, skimming and scanning techniques. (McPherson, 2005). These skills will help you identify information needed and find that information, then evaluate and organise it to help you answer the questions. (Breivik, 2005)

Resources:
Use the linked websites to answer the questions under the four headings given.

Write up your assignment and submit it to your teacher for marking. Make sure you have answered all the required questions.

The Internet Resources

Gallipoli on film

Gallipoli documentary - This site is about the documentary ‘Revealing Gallipoli”. Browse the site. Look especially at the photographs. Choose 3 photographs. Identify (say which) or download the photos you have chosen. For each, say what the photo is showing and who is involved. How can you tell who they are?
Gallipoli film - We have seen the movie “Gallipoli” in class. This site will remind you about the film. It is about the making of the actual film and you can see the actors and pictures of the people they were portraying. It shows what Gallipoli would have looked like. Investigate and browse the site. Do you believe the movie is a good portrayal of the battle? Why? How did the experience change the Australians who were there? Would the people at home in Australia have been shocked if they had seen “Gallipoli” as a newsreel? Why? Why were the Australians at Gallipoli? Give three examples of mateship. Why was mateship important?

Conditions at Gallipoli

Anzac Cove - This is a tour site mainly for people wishing to travel to the Gallipoli battle sites. It is a very popular thing to do now, much more than in the past. Why might this be so, especially among young adults? Why might people want to go to Anzac Cove? Look at the black and white picture. Why might it have been so difficult for troops to land at Anzac Cove? Look at the topography (shape of the land). What barrier do you see?
Australian perspective - This website is by Trevor Wilson, titled “Gallipoli – An Australian perspective” From whose point of view would you expect this website to be written? Browse this website to make dot points about the conditions at Gallipoli. Include at least six.
Battle site image - You are presented with a picture of the battle site at Gallipoli. Click on the picture to enlarge it. Describe the activity you see in the picture. Don’t forget to look all over the photo, there is much detail to be seen. You should comment on at least three things seen; what is going on; what people are doing. What equipment is present? List as many things as you can. How do you know the settlement is not permanent or established? State the evidence you find.
Food - Browse and read the website. It is describing the food available to Australian soldiers. Imagine you are a digger writing home to Australia. Describe what you ate today. Use only the evidence from this website. Describe in the letter what you thought about the food.

Looking at the evidence

Australian population - In search, type in “Australian population” AND 1915. This will show you population figures. Write down the population of Australia in 1915.
Casualties - Browse this site, then look at the casualty figures given at the bottom of the page. Which countries were involved? Which country fared the worst? (Which had the highest number of casualties?). Does this surprise you? Why? Had you considered this before? Does your perspective on the war colour your views? Why might the Australian and New Zealand casualty figures have been so shocking? (They are not the highest.) Hint: use the following websites:
Location - Browse the site. Play the animation (where indicated). Describe the location of Gallipoli using the map. List the combatants in this battle. Why was Australia on the side of the British? Who was in control of Gallipoli? Why was it considered strategically important? Explain the British reason for wanting possession of the Dardenelles. You may need to refer to your textbook for more information here. What are the statistics shown?
New Zealand population - Write down what percentage of the New Zealand population served. Now, in light of this information, comment on the Australian and New Zealand causalities mentioned above.
Turkish shell - Type ‘Gallipoli’ into the “find pictures of” search. Go to the 5th photo (first picture in row 2). It is called ‘Gallipoli, 1915. Turkish 8” shell. What does the photo show? What is a ‘shell’? How did the men come to have it? (speculate, make an educated guess) Are these men Turkish? How can you tell? What is your evidence?

Emotions

ANZAC Day - This is a large website of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the UK. You will need to scroll down to ‘other BBC sites’, and find the subgouping ‘history’ among other listings. Click on ‘history’. Type in Gallipoli AND Australia in the search box. You will find a story about Anzac Day in 2003. Read the article. Why was the 2003 Anzac Day different to all the 88 that had gone before? Why is Anzac Day ‘special’ to Australians. Hint – consider your keywords.
Landing - This is about the soldiers first landing at Anzac Cove. When the landing commenced it was before dawn, and therefore still dark. It was in April in the northern hemisphere. List two emotions when describing how a soldier may have felt during the landing. Speculate about two experiences he may have had using senses other than his sight.
Poem - This is from an American search engine. Scroll down to the poem by Lawrence Binyou. You may have heard it at an RSL centre or at an Anzac Day service. Explain what the poem means.
Turkish perspective - This site is about the conflict from a Turkish viewpoint. Read the website. Why were the Turks fighting? Why did the Turks fight so hard? What emotions would they have felt? How did the Turks rate the Australians? Use only the evidence from this website.

Content by Lynda McArdle, kumquat_28@hotmail.com
http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listgallipolga.html
Last revised Mon Nov 5 15:37:46 US/Pacific 2007