World War I and the Gallipoli campaign

In 1915, Honor’s fiance, Frank, and her brother, Humfray, fought in World War I’s famed Gallipoli campaign. It has been possible to piece together their story because some key documents have survived. These include Frank’s diary (now in the Western Australian Museum), his letters to his mother, and two of Humfray’s letters to his family.

In addition, in order to place the events in context, it has been possible to draw on extensive research by scholars of the famous Nek battle of 7 August, a battle in which Frank and Humfray took part.

This story of this charge was brought to the world’s attention by the 1981 Peter Weir film, Gallipoli, starring Mel Gibson. The main character, also called Frank, survived as did Frank Anderson.

Frank’s diary

Humfray’s watch

A censored letter