Performed by ANZAC Brass (Dr Howard J Evans) in Blackburn Cathedral
Aust$100 (approx. UK£50 US$64.99 NZ$110)
via email fendallmusic@hotmail.com or message via Fendall Music Facebook to purchase
(also sold via Brookwright Music and hard copy from Brassband Music Shop UK)
Perspectives from Gallipoli by Fendall Hill - Recently premiered by ANZAC Brass for commemoration of ANZAC Day in Blackburn, Christchurch (UK), Birmingham and Worcester Cathedrals.
This piece is written in my capacity as an Australian New Zealander to give grateful thanks to the people of Weymouth and more widely, Dorset. Thousands of Australian and New Zealand volunteer service personnel passed through camps and hospitals in Dorset during the First World War between battles in Europe and the Middle East. An ANZAC memorial was established, and every year on 25th April, Weymouth hosts an ANZAC wreath laying service. Opposite the memorial is the Prince Regent Hotel which, as the Burdon's Military Hospital, welcomed soldiers evacuated from the beaches of Gallipoli to recover from the traumas of war.
This piece aims to capture a soldier's point-of-view of their First World War experience, from excitingly volunteering as a teenager, to being part of the Gallipoli campaign, then receiving comfort and welcome in Weymouth, battling the trauma, and ultimately, commemorating and remembering those who sacrificed. I listened to, and read, first hand accounts to build a picture. In reality, this piece needed to be a full symphony length to even start doing the narrative justice.
The hymn tune Wareham features throughout with each section featuring a stanza from the hymn until the full hymn is featured later in the piece. Written by William Knapp from Dorsetshire in 1738, it's fitting to include to honour the region, it's always been a favourite tune of mine, a wonderful piece of music.
Section 1 - Anticipating Glory
There is a common account heard from these young boys who grew up playing with toy soldiers based on the stories of imperial wars past, so very far removed from the type of war they were about to encounter. There was an expectation of quick success, and that any defending army would quickly capitulate when facing the sheer power of the British Empire. Professional soldiers undertook the process of turning these young civilians into soldiers.
Section 2 - Foreboding and the First Wave
As they prepared to invade, there was a sense of foreboding. From very early morning, the soldiers sat completely still and silent in the boats. In preparation for the eventual heat of the day, they were instructed to fold their tunics into their packs, meaning that the morning stillness left them very cold. The first wave that landed soon after 4am on the 25th of April 1915 did not immediately meet a full barrage of fire, only sporadic outbreaks as Turkish defenders sighted advancing groups. Then Turkish bullets started killing and maiming gratuitously. The landing army, including those heard singing "this little bit of the World belongs to us" minutes earlier, were increasingly exasperated, slipping on underwater boulders and contending with small pebbles in their boots as they waded into the gunfire.
Section 3 - Fierce Resistance and Retreat
The invaders had underestimated the resistance they were facing. The Turkish defence was well prepared and ferocious. The 8 month campaign would ultimately cost some 85,000 Turkish lives. Despite the ongoing losses and lack of progress over the months, the orders from above were not to withdraw. Eventually, the campaign became untenable and the retreat was planned. Troops carried out 'silent stunts', including irregular rifle and artillery fire so the Turks would not interpret these silences as a withdrawal. All the evacuation operations were well executed, meaning only handfuls of casualties.
Section 4 - Comfort at Weymouth, Mind Battles Still Rage, and Remembrance
I can't imagine the sense of relief and peace that these soldiers felt as they arrived in Weymouth to convalesce. In this section, the full hymn is featured with the final stanza for the first time. Despite this, deep mental scars accompanied their physical scars. This is to honour those who tended to their bodies and minds in Weymouth, and the people of Dorset who ultimately chose to commemorate the ANZACS in Weymouth annually. 86 ANZAC soldiers are buried in the Weymouth and Melcombe Regis cemeteries. This piece, and the performance of it in the UK in 2025, aims to thank all of you, past, present and future for looking after our ANZAC forefathers and their memory.
Fendall Hill 2025