In the second half of 2024, I launched a new talk –
“The 6th Lincolns at Gallipoli and the Post War Controversy.”
A synopsis of the talk is – “When Great Britain entered the Great War in August 1914, only Lord Kitchener foresaw a long and attritional war. This led to the formation of Kitchener’s New Army of which the 6th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment, was the first New Army battalion formed by the Lincolnshire Regiment. Within twelve months, the 1000 civilians who first enlisted in Lincoln and surrounding villages found themselves opposing the Ottoman Turks on the Gallipoli Peninsular, and fighting in hand to hand combat at Chocolate Hill in August 1915. Such was the prowess of this battalion in its first major action, that it was described as their finest moment in the whole war, which included over two years on the Western Front. Nevertheless, it led to a post war argument and much rancour when the Official History came to be written. This talk will tell their story and try to come to a conclusion over the post war debate.”