01x01 - The First Day

[bunniefuu]

What did I know about w*r?

I was 17 years old.

I joined up for the same reason as everyone else.

For the King and the Empire, to do my bit.

They said it would be an adventure.

It was the right thing to do.

My brother Bevan and I signed up to fight Germans.

But here I was in a little boat about to inv*de a country I'd never heard of.

Now, at dawn on that first day, the King, the Empire and doing the right thing seemed a long way off.

Hail Mary, full of grace.

Our Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus Holy Mary, Mother of God...

Oh come on, put a sock in it... pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Steady, steady.

Bevan that's against orders, they said bayonets only.

Shut up, Tolly.

Now, forward. Come on son, get up!

Get off the boats, now!

Go, go, go!

Advance with me, come on!

Keep moving!

Drop your packs, then. Explain it.

Move forward!

Come on get down! Where's the General?

Get down.

Drop your packs and fix bayonets.

Somebody help me!

Keep going! Come on.

Tolly! What are you doing, Tolly?

Stay with us.

He's dead Tolly, we have to leave him.

Leave him.

Keep going!

Put your bayonet on.

Alright? Yeah, alright.

Follow me. Flanks with me gents, come on men.

We were told to move inland and march on Constantinople.

There was no slaughter on the beach, just scattered Turkish sentries f*ring down on us.

All you men keep coming, let's go, up through here.

Sergeant? It's going well Captain Taylor.

At least we're moving forward.

That hollow ground up there, that's the objective.

Alright sir, keep moving forwards, go, come on. Move, move, move.

Come on, time to get up. Get up. Son, get up!

It was in the hills beyond the beach where it began.

This was bastard country.

Not the sort of place an army would inv*de on purpose.

Boring, I know.

Come on men!

Come on let's pick it up. Pick it up men!

Allah?

Allah?

Flanks with me! Flanks with me!

General Hamilton?

Braithwaite. Sir.

The Australians have landed and they're on the move.

Excellent.

We'll be able to see what they are capable of.

The first blow is half the battle, Braithwaite.

Don't forget that.

They're waiting for you inside, General.

History, Braith, we're about to write it.

The Greeks and Trojans will be here forever and now it's our turn.

Yes.

Cliffy! Flank them from that direction.

OK. Alright.

Hold your fire.

Come on!

Jesus, Cliffy.

f*ck, have you seen Tolly? No. No.

Bevan!

Bevan!

Geez Tol, where the hell have you been?

Nowhere. Hey, you got to stay with us Tolly, I promised mum.

You all right?

Oh bugger this, who wants to go back down to the beach for a swim?

There's an idea.

Shall we take a ride? Yeah, alright.

All of those in favour of going back down to the sea for a swim say, "Aye". Aye!

Alright, are you nervous then.

We're all ready? Yeah.

Go!

Get down! Get down!

Bev! Wait for me!

Come on you bastards!

Mr Tolly.

We've got news.

Bevan's signed up for the w*r.

Your brother's going to be a soldier.

Aren't you proud?

Come here.

Come on. You can't get me, I'm protected now!

Tolly!

Come on, Tol. Tolly!

Come on Tol!

Do we know if Birdwood's still doing well with the Anzacs at Kabatepe?

What do we have in on that?

The landing out there was highly successful, sir.

Yeah, I'm aware of that, things look fine from out on deck but this is two hours ago.

Last report, the Australians and New Zealanders were moving inland.

Excellent, they're down South here with Hunter-Weston.

Do we know what's happening?

Looked like a damn mess out there to me.

He's on board the Euryalus, sir.

We've no way of knowing.

Well this can't continue.

I don't want the Hampshire regiment wiped out completely.

The Munster Fusiliers, I want them off the V-beach and relanded on Y-beach.

Sir, is that sound?

Should we barge into Hunter-Weston's invasion plans?

He is executive commander at Cape Helles.

You think I should not force his hand, is that it?

Very well.

Damn shame they're having a hellish time of it.

Unlike the colonials, sir, they have the simple matter of marching over that.

We're here, we must be.

You sure, because I don't think so.

This is way off.

We're supposed to take 15 minutes to get to here.

Well it's going to take two hours, Captain. If we're lucky.

Bloody hopeless.

We have to go back.

We retrace our steps.

We do that, we're going to get caught in the middle They've got us on both sides.

There's no other way.

Down this side as quick as you can.

Back to the beach sergeant, report where we're headed.

Recruit as many men and stretcher bearers as you can and bring them along down there.

Come on get moving! Private, move!

Fall back! Come on, with me.

Terrain's causing a lot of confusion, sir.

And the enemy?

He has g*n batteries and machine g*ns.

Here, here and here.

We're moving troops to our right to take this route.

So if we keep him to our right, we can move up this valley.

Are we doing that?

I believe some men are moving to the heights, sir.

Communications are pragmatory.

You believe? We need to know what's happening up there.

How are you getting this information?

Wounded men mostly, sir.

They're questioned as soon as they arrive on the beach.

Wounded - many of them?

Quite a few I'm unafraid. The medical staff are...

Well then, casualties means we've engaged them at least.

This is good.

By mid-morning the terrain was doing more damage than the Turks.

On all the ridges, hardly anyone was where they should have been.

Captain Taylor was doing his best to follow orders and all we could do was follow him.

One section, Turkish position, 100-yards to your front, one round, fire!

Where the hell did you come from?

The right, sir, we were told to move inland.

Who's your commanding officer?

Lieutenant Cowper.

Dead.

All right, fall in with these men.

Come on lads.

Sir! I have orders from the the beach.

So what do we have? Some bad order down there, sir.

They seemed to focus on the ridge to our right.

Orders are just to keep on occupy the heights.

And these men are all they could spare?

No sir.

I ran into them on the way up.

They were lost.

Right lads, keep moving with me.

You signed. Didn't ya?

Mum.

What ever are you thinking?

It's always the same.

Don't do this to me, Tolly!

You - Mum. please.

Mum, mum!

Damn you, Tolly.

Damn you.

I'll stop.

Come on son.

Two sections, 100 yards to your front. Five rounds, go on!

Still retrieving, means their reinforcements haven't arrived yet.

We have to secure that hill before they get here.

Bloody good.

Oh they're scared. They've gone on the run.

Down.

Sir? Give them a breather.

Then we'll proceed.

The further we got up the heights the more I felt like w*r.

A lot of blokes were dead.

The Turks were above us.

I could hear other Anzacs not too far away, on the ridges to the east.

No-one knew how this was going to end.

Lie down.

Senior officers, means those reinforcements aren't far off.

That's the hill we want.

Have a mini-trench here as quickly as possible. Yes, sir.

You can recognise this here on a map?

Think so, yep.

We're obviously way forward of everyone else.

Get back down to the beach again on the double, tell them we need urgent reinforcements.

OK, one section, go over to your right.

Start entrenching.

Two section, over your left and start digging.

amm*nit*on's on its way up.

And water. And water, get digging!

You four? With me.

I'd only been a fighting soldier for five hours, but it felt like a mess to me.

Senior officer.

300 yards, who can take the sh*t?

I couldn't get him from here, Tolly.

Back.

Back.

Back!

Oh!

All right, you sneaky bugger.

Sir. Back again, sergeant?

This is hardly your role, why aren't using runners?

Captain Taylor's decided we had more certainty this way, sir.

Well done, Sergeant.

You thought you could run faster, is that it?

That's right, sir.

Well, come on.

May I?

From the beach to this point, this is the dead-end I pointed out last time, so Captain Taylor has moved from down here up to this hill where he's digging in.

Who's he with? How many companies?

It's hard to say, sir.

We lost men to the scrub in the valleys, the company structure's broken down so we've been collecting men the best we can.

What's the size of Taylor's force, then?

It's about 60 men. 60?

They're done.

We need to get more men up there.

Right, get back there immediately.

We send whatever we can, but tell him he must hold that position.

Yes sir.

60 men.

Puts our troubles to the right in perspective.

Those heights are critical. Now we're there we must hold on.

Company! Stand to.

Five rounds rapid.

Fire!

Fall back!

Fall back!

I thought you'd never ask.

Company, fall back!

Fall back!

Fall back!

Fall back!

Company, reform on me.

Reform on me.

They've stopped!

They're bastards. They're Turks.

NCOs, check amm*nit*on and report back to me.

Do you think we scared them, sir?

No. They want to do us one hill at a time.

Charles Bean. Yes.

I watched the landing, it's a little far North.

Well wherever it is sir, it's all we've got.

I'm to present myself to General Bridges.

I believe he's here somewhere, sir.

What do you mean somewhere? Aren't you landing officer?

Someone said he's done down past the beach to check on communications, but I can't confirm that.

You're on your own I'm afraid sir, where's Mr Barker?

I was told to expect two reporters.

He's still on his ship, he'll be coming later.

Is this all your luggage? Of course.

I'll have your man collect it, this way sir.

Bartlett.

My god, Donald!

Only a damn lieutenant and I'll have to have a chat with the admiral.

And only a reporter? Where's the novel?

I'm far too busy to write a novel, Donald.

Bumped into a chap looking for you with this, from London.

Ah! Yes, about time.

I hope it's good news.

"Under no circumst-", dear. What?

Expenses.

I wanted to rent a yacht, sail it up and down the coast.

Kit it up with something to sell it, of course.

Chef or two. Fine idea, don't you think?

And they knocked you back, quelle surprise. Hmm.

Shouldn't you be ashore then?

I was here the years ago with the Turks when the Bulgarians chased them out of Europe.

Cholera and entrapment.

Devastating combination.

Spent some time in Constantinople.

Then I got my palm read by a fortune teller.

And?

Apparently I'm all but invincible.

I couldn't tell her that.

Coward.

You all right, son?

Hey, where you off to?

You all right? I don't know.

Where's your w*apon?

I don't know.

You're wounded.

Are you wounded?

No.

All right.

You grab that w*apon there and you follow me.

Do you understand?

Look at me lad, do you understand?

Yes. Yeah? Right, let's go.

Ever think we'd be soldiers in the army together?

I never thought I'd be in a w*r.

Me too.

This isn't what I figured.

What'd you figure?

I don't know.

Didn't think I'd be k*lling blokes trying to surrender.

Anyway... They did the same, bastards.

I'll look after your back.

Yeah. I know.

Gonna be my best man.

I can't find Cliffy.

When did you last see him?

Back up the hill?

He's right with us.

He's got to be here somewhere.

No, he's gone.

sh*t.

Hey, have you seen Cliffy Sutton? No, I haven't.

Hey, you're late.

Alright Harry, you're all in?

Sit down.

Thank you very much.

Get some of that into you.

Thank you, sir.

So what's the news?

It's not good sir.

What have they got in mind, Sergeant?

We gotta hold... that hill.

So... Can't think about it, Tolly.

He'll turn up, you know what he's like.

Here, let's have a look in this field.

Got a mark on him. Strange.

Some kind of... blast injury or something?

Maybe not?

Why's he dead?

Who knows, Tol? It's his turn.

Grab his arms.

Come on.

Stop thinking about Cliffy.

Come on.

I couldn't.

Me and Cliffy were mates.

He was a simple bloke and some of the others made fun of him, but he always looked out for me.

Dave came to the w*r from university, he knew a lot of stuff I didn't.

He was a smart bloke, so I tried hard to believe him.

My brother Bevan was like a b*llet a day.

Oi, you guys, you seen Cliffy Sutton?

Hey! You? Huh? Sorry mate. You sure?

He just wanted to fix things.

Even if he didn't know how.

Reinforcements, on their way.

Sir!

Don't salute me you idiot.

You want me to get sh*t?

Where are the rest of your men? Sir?

And the amm*nit*on, where's the amm*nit*on?

I wasn't told anything of amm*nit*on, sir.

We're nearly out.

Your orders were to resupply us.

My orders were to move inland, sir.

Move inland? And do bloody what?

Isn't anyone thinking?

How are we expected to take...

Sergeant! Right, sir.

And water! Right, sir.

The Turks will have more reinforcements on the way, I have to move now with what I've got.

Get your men into a line.

Stand left.

Alright Abdul. Move it!

We know you can take a hill.

Let's see how good you are at keeping one.

Pull over!

Come on! Over!

Over! Go over!

Come on, move it!

Occupy those fallen ditches.

They'll be back!

Sir.

Now it's in the timing.

Who gets here first?

That damn Turk up there all personal in his amm*nit*on.

♪ Lead, kindly light, ♪
♪ amid th' encircling gloom, ♪
♪ lead thou me on; ♪
♪ the night is dark, ♪
♪ and I am far from home; ♪
♪ lead thou me on ♪
♪ keep thou my feet; ♪
♪ I do not ask to see ♪
♪ the distant scene ♪
♪ one step enough ♪
♪ for me. ♪

Why are you stretcher bearers sitting down?

We're exhausted, serge.

Only just got back from up on the hills.

On your feet if you don't mind, gents.

Son, have a look where I'm pointing.

I need you to make your way up along this main valley.

All the way to the top and on the left.

You see where I'm pointing? You understand?

Go.

Give it to 'em, Serge.

We should take a look at that shoulder of yours.

Do that later.

There's some water, son.

All right, thanks cobber.

Where do you think you're going?

I'm going, I can't stand and hope all day.

Hunter-Weston's men are sure consolidating.

Birdwood and his Anzacs in the hills, gentleman.

It's the Balkans all over.

The Turk doesn't know what's hit him.

He has more at his disposal this time though, sir.

Hardly matters at all.

He's not a good fighter. Never has been.

No, indeed.

Strange the enemy.

Phantom till you look them in the eyes.

It's evil.

Man on the stair.

On the stair?

As I was going up the stair, I met a man who wasn't there.

He wasn't there again today.

Oh, how I wish he'd go away.

Go away indeed.

The heights today, Constantinople tomorrow eh?

Well hardly, sir.

Hyperbole, Braith.

One must learn to think beyond the obvious.

The obvious is what we have before us, General.

Perhaps it's best to deal with that first.

Yes of course.

Everything in its proper place.

By god, I'll box his ears.

Return! Fall back.

Fall back!

Retreat, retreat.

No!

Now they've got my hill they'll keep coming.

Send amm*nit*on.

Are our flanks tied in?

Yes sir.

How many rounds per man?

About 20, sir.

20.

Sir.

Doesn't look good.

What?

Look at him. He's gonna win the w*r by himself.

What do you mean?

He's a good soldier Dave, he knows what he's doing.

No-one on this hill knows what they're doing Bev, if you haven't noticed.

He's going to get us all k*lled.

He's doing what he's supposed to be doing.

Well he's enjoying it a little too much for my liking.

No-ones enjoying it, Dave. You reckon?

amm*nit*on sir. At last.

This should be drawing them out immediately.

Hey cobbers.

Geez Cliffy, sh*t.

What are you doing?

I'm winning the w*r mate.

What happened to you?

The b*llet it went in here... and it come out here.

Never felt a thing.

Quite nice actually.

Went down the beach, even had a swim.

No you didn't. I bloody did.

No, I didn't.

I wish I did but... So what have you boys been doing?

Sitting on your boney ass by the looks.

What's wrong little Tol?

You all right, eh?

You're great! You're alright.

Anyone got any camel dung?

No?

All of the men to stand two.

We're going back up there.

We're running out of time. Sir.

You won't go near, Eric.

Have a look where they are.

I think maybe we should just hold them off.

Be buggered, Personal.

I am going to sh**t that bloody Turk.

General Birdwood, welcome sir.

Gentleman.

Commander sends his compliments.

We know the situation on the right.

What we need to know is exactly what's happening up that valley.

It's confused at the moment, sir.

Has anyone gone up to have a proper look?

It's in hand, sir. So it should be.

The problem is, we don't know with any precision what's happening on our own front.

We're hemmed in on the right.

So gentleman, what we need is a break out.

I'm sure you can find a solution.

Birdy's happy enough.

I don't know why.

And..

..he shouldn't be leaving.

General Birdwood, sir.

Godley, thank you so much.

Thank you. All the very best to you. To you too, sir.

One minute, you're going in one minute!

You've got to follow your captain over that hill.

Do not turn back.

Get your eyes forward, private. One minute.

Every second we're here, the Turks are getting stronger up there.

Thought you were dead.

I am dying.

Come back to get ya, you'd better watch out.

Right then, let's show these Turks...

Oh sh*t.

Follow me!

Move!

Come on!

But I thought you say we lost that hill.

We did, sir but we retook it.

Third time? No sir, it would be a fourth time.

Good.

We've lost it again.

Now the Turks have got control here, here and here and they still hold the heights.

Right. Damn.

So what's Taylor proposing?

Captain Taylor was sh*t, sir.

Just before our last occupation on this hill here.

So who are you reporting to, sergeant?

Lieutenant Chandler, sir.

A lieutenant? What?

Sir, a lot of the officers have gone.

The sn*pers know their insignia.

So, do you think he can hold?

Probably not, sir.

This is your story too, Pryor?

It is, sir. We couldn't hold.

They had overwhelming force.

Sir... That is all, Sergeant.

Yes sir.

Broken line, no a*tillery, little communication, severe casualties.

Birdwood needs to know this.

No. We need Birdwood back here.

They won't come at us us now.

They've got to be as buggered as we are.

They're probably not, you know.

They figure they're winning.

Makes a difference.

Yeah.

Have a look at this.

It's gonna bloody rain now.

Good luck Thomas, see you when you get back.

Good luck, Tolly. See you, mate.

♪ Beautiful dreamer, ♪
♪ wake unto me ♪
♪ Starlight and dewdrops are awaiting for thee ♪
♪ Sounds of the rude world ♪
♪ heard in the day ♪
♪ Led by the moonlight have all passed away ♪
♪ Gone are the cares of ♪
♪ life's busy throng ♪
♪ Beautiful dreamer awake unto me ♪
♪ Beautiful dreamer ♪
♪ awake unto me ♪

Company, to the front!

Rapid fire!

Go on!

When I was a little kid I was taught, "Thou shalt not k*ll."

But once you start... everything you've been taught to believe just disappears.

No large batteries out there yet.

It seems they're not fully prepared.

They'll have them there soon enough, John and they'll open up on you, no doubt.

And so will I, sir.

So will I.

Hunter-Weston will have to make another push early.

Quite.

He needs to get off those damn beaches, that's what he needs to do now.

Though I'm not sure about early, Weston's strictly a protocol man.

He'll att*ck at 10 or so, a civilised time.

I rather think the Turks will be ready for him by then.

But that's no matter, he knows what he's doing.

He's kept himself on the Euryalus, Braith? Yes.

He hasn't gone ashore. No, sir.

Perhaps he ought to.

Birdwood's on his way ashore a second time with his Anzacs.

I applaud that. Birdy puts himself in the thick of it.

And is it all going well for him?

Well I'm presuming so John in the absence of anything to the contrary.

Thank you, Peterson.

General Birdwood, thanks for coming back sir.

We're getting some pretty uncomfortable reports from the hills. Yes.

A right flank.

It's not good. We're pinned down there, can't advance.

And we've lost the heights.

The officers are advising withdrawal.

Are they? What do you recommend?

It galls me to say it sir, but our position's critical, we cannot break out.

Godley? The men are exhausted sir.

Unfortunately we have to abandon this altogether.

We won't be able to hold if the Turks att*ck in the morning.

Which they will, do bloody doubt. Walker?

I disagree. Fully.

We've established a line, we've landed 15,000 men and they've fought well.

They might have Walker, but that's academic.

We don't have the strength or position to repel them in the morning when they come.

Who's to say? I'm saying, damn it.

With respect your saying means nothing.

What counts is the ability of our men up there.

I beg your pardon.

You're wrong, Bill.

Let me remind you Walker of my seniority, I'm recommending disembarkation and if you so much...

Enough gentleman. Please.

I agree with Walker.

We've come this far.

I don't want to withdraw on principle. Sir!

However I'll advise the commander of your concerns.

Make way, private.

Mr Ashmead-Bartlett.

Yes? Welcome.

We were told we see you earlier.

Yeah, I've been busy watching from offshore.

Not as busy as you lot actually. Charles Bean's here is he?

He arrived earlier today sir, but he's gone off the beach.

Now I have the press corps teds down there.

No, no, no, it won't be necessary.

I'm just here for a first look and then back off to the ship.

Alright, sir. Good evening. Good evening.

Excuse me. Why haven't these men been evacuated?

Well the hospital ships are all full, sir.

We've been told there's no chance till some time tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

And have you been told by what miracle more ships will suddenly appear?

No sir. Because there aren't any.

I probably figured that, sir.

It's a damn shame.

How do you do, General?

How do you, Bartlett?

How did you come ashore?

Take your boat back and deliver this.

It's of the utmost priority.

Certainly, sir.

So, where we headed sir?

I'm not sure.

Let's get back to the Queen.

Gotta disembark these poor sods.

Thank you Bartlett.

How are things for the Anzacs at Gaba Tepe Bay?

Well, I'm not privy to the details.

But...

Yes?

Well if you're asking me, preparation time, troop numbers, Hamilton needs more of both if this is going to be a success.

A general, Bartlett, he's like a tenant farmer.

He works with what he's been given.

Precisely, but my point remains sir.

You're welcome to stay on-board tonight, I'll have more boats landing again tomorrow.

If there is a tomorrow.

Take these bastards!

Take this blasted place.

Take the General.

I hate you!

sh**t for them, men!

They just keep coming!

Shut up and sh**t.

Sir Ian?

Sir Ian?

Sir Ian?

Sir Ian?

Yes? Braith? What is it?

It's a matter of life and death sir, you've got to come and settle it.

What is it?

This. From Birdwood.

Most serious but if we are to re-embark it must be done at once.

Re-embark?

Birdwood's generals want to abandon the Anzac position altogether?

When did you get this?

30 minutes ago. I've given the order for all boats to standby to evacuate.

Admiral.

Withdrawal?

It can be done.

But it sticks in the craw.

All right.

It does.

Thursby.

It'll take the best part of three days to get them all off.

Where are the Turks?

On top of them, sir.

Well then...

Here we are.

"To Lieutenant, General Birdwood, Australia and New Zealand Army Corps, your news is indeed serious but there's nothing for you to dig right in and stick it out."

Eh, Braith? Absolutely sir.

"It will take at least two days to re-embark you which Admiral Thursby will explain to you. Down the coast Hunter-Weston, despite his heavy losses, will be advancing tomorrow. which should divert pressure from you. Make a personal appeal to your men and to Godley to make a supreme effort to hold their ground. Signed, Ian Hamilton. PS, we have got through the difficult business, and now all you have to do is dig, dig, dig. Until you are safe."

So, gentlemen. Not quite the reply we expected.

He's right of course.

To go back is probably more dangerous than to go forward.

So it's a fate accompli?

Nothing more to be done?

Except get this message somehow to the line.

We must let the men know that there will be no falling back.

"Dig, dig, dig until you are safe."

Strange order from an OC.

Hardly our business, Walker.

I don't question the order Bill, I simply note that's it odd.

Gentleman I remind you, time is running out.

The Turks are well advanced.

Utilise whatever communications we have.

We must start entrenching.

Yes, sir.

Please, please, please. Could you just hold this for a moment.

I think it's under his jaw there.

Put his tongue up.

That's good, push hard.

That's good - it should stop his bleeding.

It won't stop.

Oh sh*t!

Here, here, come here!

Tolly!

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Tolly!

Stay there!

You alright?

And there is day one.

w*r is such a blasted business.

The first blow is half the battle, sir.

Don't forget that.

Indeed.

Would you like a whiskey, sir? Hmm.

Good night, sir.

Good night, Braith.

That first day was like a dream.

Full of loose ends and misunderstandings.

The men who landed on the beach went up into the gullies and ravines of Gallipoli and were never seen again.

I'd heard there'd been wars here before.

I don't know what it was like for them.

It didn't matter much.

Tolly!

This was our w*r now.

There'd be time to think about the ghosts later.

Tolly!

I'm all right!

I'm all right!

We dug in on that hill in the dark.

On that first day.

It's as far as we ever got.

20,000 of us.

Still to come on Gallipoli...

40,000 of them.

..the innocent...

Well, have a deco at this.

..with fire in their belly.

They now have double our forces.

The fools... with blood on their hands.

The young heroes... of Australia's most defining moments.

Miracle next week! Did you see that?

The triumph... the tragedy... the truth.

And next Monday...

To build mistake upon mistake like these fools are doing... the incredible moment...

Hold your fire!

..across the k*lling fields of Gallipoli.

That is politics, Captain.

Sworn enemies...

Yes.

..fathers, sons and brothers come together.

The television event of the year is just getting started.

Take a bloody sh*t, why don't ya?