Gallipoli Revisited In the Footsteps of Charles Bean and the Australian Historical Mission

C.E.W. Bean's correspondence from WWI made him a household name in Australia. Less well known is the role he played in the establishment of the Australian War Memorial. In 1919, Bean returned to Gallipoli to fill in the missing pieces of what happened during the campaign. This book shares the story of the Australian Historical Mission.



The landing at Gallipoli has long been described as the moment that Australiaproved itself as a nation; and in the years since the ill fated battle, the worldGallipoli 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 thatso many artefacts survive today, telling their story in museums all over Australia? For the main part, it's thanks to famous Australian war correspondent andhistorian Charles Bean. C. E. W. Bean's correspondence from WWI made hima household name amongst Australians. Less known is the role he played theestablishment of Australian War Memorial. Even while working as the officialwar correspondent during the 1915 Gallipoli campaign, he began collectingrecords, artefacts and soldiers' stories, with the aim of someday establishingAustralia's first national war museum. In 1919 Bean had the opportunity to return to Gallipoli to fill in the missingpieces of what happened during the campaign. He brought together a team ofartists to accompany him on what he called the Australian Historical Mission. Their aim was to collect battlefield relics and create new artworks to convey thefull 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 thejourney home again. Interwoven throughout is a thought-provoking explorationof the connections between art, landscape and history, and their lasting impacton the way Australians remember the 1915 ANZAC campaign as well as thebeginnings of the Australian War Museum and the ANZAZ legend itself.The landing at Gallipoli has long been described as the moment that Australiaproved itself as a nation; and in the years since the ill fated battle, the worldGallipoli 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 thatso many artefacts survive today, telling their story in museums all over Australia? For the main part, it's thanks to famous Australian war correspondent andhistorian Charles Bean. C. E. W. Bean's correspondence from WWI made hima household name amongst Australians. Less known is the role he played theestablishment of Australian War Memorial. Even while working as the officialwar correspondent during the 1915 Gallipoli campaign, he began collectingrecords, artefacts and soldiers' stories, with the aim of someday establishingAustralia's first national war museum. In 1919 Bean had the opportunity to return to Gallipoli to fill in the missingpieces of what happened during the campaign. He brought together a team ofartists to accompany him on what he called the Australian Historical Mission. Their aim was to collect battlefield relics and create new artworks to convey thefull 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 thejourney home again. Interwoven throughout is a thought-provoking explorationof the connections between art, landscape and history, and their lasting impacton the way Australians remember the 1915 ANZAC campaign as well as thebeginnings of the Australian War Museum and the ANZAZ legend itself.