ANZAC Day Letters

At the end of Term 1 we learnt about ANZAC Day. We looked at the conditions that the soldiers had to live under and the feelings they would have had. We then wrote our own letters, as if we were soldiers taking part in the Gallipoli landing. Here is a selection of them.


14th May 1915
Dear Mum, Dad and Hailey,
I'm in Gallipoli. It's truly horrifying in these smelly, uncomfortable, humid trenches. I lost my food in the attack a few weeks ago and now I am sharing with Ryan.
I'm first in command and Ryan's second. We're shooting at the Turks and they're shooting at us. Some of my closest friends have sacrificed themselves or got injured. 
All of us are scared but still show courage. We are still happy that we're serving our country at war.
I wish the tanks, bombers, warships and airforce were here to help though. I can't believe what is happening around here.
Please write back. Miss you a lot.
Love from Boston

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12th May 1915
Dear Mummy and Daddy,
I'm in the trenches, hungry and sad that some of my best friends have been shot. 
This is how it started, when we were almost to shore, the Turkish army started shooting at us because they could see us in the boats. I told the other people in my boat to get in the deep, cold and dangerous water. They agreed and jumped out of the boat and swam to shore.
We climbed up the steep, slippery hill. I saw someone die, I quickly got their dog tags and put it in my backpack. I followed the leader to a spot where they were going to build a trench. Here I am, in the trench now, thinking of you.
I hope I can see you again soon.
From Jacinta

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29th May 1915
To my whole family,
I really miss you. I am in Turkey. We landed in the wrong spot and everyone is shooting at us. We are not happy, we are horrified. It took us 2 hours to climb the soaring hill and it was so slippery my friend, Sargent Ruddick, got shot. I am so sad, luckily I have her dog tags.
I am so hot and the flies will not leave me alone. In my trench there are also heaps of bugs. The trenches are only 2 metres wide and 16 metres ahead. I lost my leg but Simpson helped me, then he got shot. I was the last person to see him. He was inspirational, bold and fascinating. I would love to come home and make people stop fighting because now I know how it feels.
Yours sincerely Ariel.
P.S. I love you with all my heart.

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May 8, 1915
To my lovely Mother,
The morning we arrived in Gallipoli it was very dark. Once we got to shore we figured out we were in the wrong place so we had to get up shore. It looked fine but the beach was cohered in rocks and we heard a loud bang. The Turkish started shooting at us.
Most of us survived but it was horrible. My friend Riley went with my battalion and he nearly lost his life but I sacrificed my arm for him. It was shot, I had to have it amputated.
It's so hot and there's flies everywhere in our trench. You have to risk your life just to refill your water bottle and now we're digging a new trench, I don't know if I will survive.
I really miss you and I hope to see you soon.
Love from Angus.

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13 May 1915
Dear Mum and Dad,
We've landed in Gallipoli and some people have dies already. I can hear gun shots from the Turkish soldiers up in the hills. I am starting to climb the steep and rocky hills. My commander told me to drop my food and start climbing.
We have almost reached the Turkish trenches. I have lost my best friend, Zac, but I found a guy called Riley. We are starting to attack the Turkish trenches. Riley sacrificed his life for me. I am so sad.
I am in Lone Pine and I have lost my arm. Even without my arm I helped injured people and put them on my back. I carried them to our trenches for safety. We are still shooting at the Turkish soldiers with our rifles and machine guns.
I would love to come back home and see you. 
I love you very much.
Love from Admiral Jake Barnes.

Aren't we amazing writers in Room 11!