William Birdwood Biography

Appointed Commander of the ANZAC forces

Appointed Commander of the ANZAC forces

Appointed Commander of the 5th Army

Appointed Commander of the 5th Army

Appointed Commander of the ANZAC forces

Appointed Commander of the ANZAC forces

Leeds the Courtai Offensive

Birdwood's corps is assigned a landing north of Gaba Tepe to threaten the peninsula's central communications.

Birdwood and senior ANZAC officers inspect the Gallipoli coast from HMS Queen Elizabeth before the landings.

Lands a force of Australians & New Zealanders subsequently know as ANZAC Cove

Birdwood's ANZAC Corps lands north of its intended objective and establishes a precarious beachhead.

Lands a force of Australians & New Zealanders subsequently know as ANZAC Cove

Birdwood reports his divisional commanders' recommendation to evacuate after the confused first day ashore.

Birdwood approves an offensive intended to seize Baby 700 and improve the vulnerable ANZAC position.

Birdwood's corps defeats the large Ottoman attack and retains the entire ANZAC perimeter.

Birdwood participates in arrangements for a temporary truce to bury thousands of dead between the opposing lines.

Birdwood witnesses the loss of HMS Triumph after the battleship is torpedoed while supporting the ANZAC beachhead.

Birdwood's staff struggles to maintain drinking-water supplies for troops crowded into the ANZAC perimeter.

Birdwood's troops repel another Ottoman assault against the ANZAC perimeter at the end of June.

Birdwood reports increasing sickness as heat, flies and poor sanitation weaken the garrison.

Birdwood's proposal to seize the Sari Bair heights becomes the core of the August offensive.

Birdwood allows the Nek assault to proceed although the supporting advance toward Chunuk Bair is behind schedule.

Birdwood's ANZAC command proceeds with the attack at The Nek despite the failure to secure the intended supporting heights.

Birdwood's force renews the attempt to seize Hill 60, using Australian, New Zealand, British and Irish troops at the Anzac-Suvla junction.

Birdwood's troops endure flooding, snow, frostbite and exposure as a severe winter storm strikes Gallipoli.

Birdwood receives the final order to evacuate the ANZAC and Suvla positions.

The evacuation programme removes sick and wounded men, surplus troops and valuable stores before the final nights of withdrawal.

Detailed orders are issued for the final evacuation phase, with secrecy and deception measures designed to conceal the withdrawal.

Birdwood takes command of I ANZAC Corps after the post-Gallipoli reorganisation.

Birdwood's I ANZAC Corps deploys from Egypt to the Western Front.

Birdwood coordinates successive Australian divisions fighting around Pozieres and Mouquet Farm.

Birdwood's I ANZAC Corps coordinates Australian attacks during the prolonged fighting at Bullecourt.