The Anzac Book

“The Australian and New Zealand troops have indeed proved themselves worthy sons of the Empire.”
GEORGE R.I.
The Anzac Book
Written and Illustrated in Gallipoli by The Men of Anzac For the benefit of Patriotic Funds connected with the A. & N. Z. A. C. Cassell and Company, Ltd London, New York, Toronto and Melbourne 1916
The Copyright in all the Contributions, both pictures and writings, contained in The Anzac Book is strictly reserved to the Contributors.
It is my privilege to have been asked to write an Introduction for The Anzac Book, and to convey the cordial thanks of all the inhabitants of our little township here to those who have so kindly given us the free use of their brains and hands in writing and illustrating this book in a way which does as much credit to them as the fighting here has done to the Force. We all hope that readers of our book will agree in this, while those who are more critical will perhaps remember the circumstances under which the contributions have been prepared, in small dug-outs, with shells and bullets frequently whistling overhead.
It may be of interest to readers to hear the origin of the word “Anzac.”
When I took over the command of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in Egypt a year ago, I was asked to select a telegraphic code address for my Army Corps, and then adopted the word “Anzac.” Later on, when we had effected our landing here in April last, I was asked by General Headquarters to suggest a name for the beach where we had made good our first precarious footing, and then asked that this might be recorded as “Anzac Cove”—a name which the bravery of our men has now made historical, while it will remain a geographical landmark for all time.
Our eight months at “Anzac” cannot help stamping on the memory of every one of us days of trial and anxiety, hopes, and perhaps occasional fears, rejoicings at success, and sorrow—very deep and sincere—for many a good comrade whom we can never see again.