
True Stories

Hugh Dolan is a retired Squadron Leader in the Royal Australian Air Force. He published a non fiction account on the ANZAC Landing, “36 Days: the untold story behind the ANZAC Landings, 25 April 1915″ (Pan Macmillan 2010). Hugh stumbled onto the roles of spies whilst conducting research for his PhD at the UNSW. Hugh then expanded his research, finding that ANZAC Headquarters had access to a wealth of information on the strength of Turkish defences. They used this military intelligence to plan a silent night time assault on their designated landing beach – Z Beach. ANZAC Cove is in the centre of Z Beach.
“Gallipoli: the landing” is unique. It is a traditional comic that tells a factual story. Most readers will be surprised to learn of that ANZAC had the use of an aircraft carrier and a tethered balloon to assist in the landing on 25 April 1915.
Hugh is the presenter for “Gallipoli from Above”. a 60 minute documentary on ANZAC Headquarters use of aircraft in their amphibious assault on Z Beach. This documentary will premier on ANZAC Day 2012 at 7.30 pm AEST.
Malcom Gardiner was a sailor in the Royal Australian Navy with over 20 years service. Malcom has used traditional methods in his drawing, first using blue pencils to draw layouts and action sequences. Mal used original photographs as reference to ensure that his drawings of faces, ships, aircraft, submarines, and even the terrain were accurate.
“Gallipoli: the landing” may be used a a teaching resource. An appendix of 20 pages holds primary source documents that give students and inside view of the ANZAC landings. A bibliography holds online reference that teachers may access to build investigation into the real story of the ANZAC landing on Z Beach on 25 April 1915.

