Sands of Gallipoli
		90th Anniversary Medallion Proof Quality   Gallipoli sands: The sand within the vial accompanying this fine limited edition medallion was collected from the beaches of the Gallipoli Peninsular. Quality Medallion: Each Gallipoli 90th Anniversary medallion is finished in highly polished silver and gold. The medallions are 50mm in diameter and 4.5mm in thickness. Historical Content: The historical consultant for Sands of Gallipoli is Australia's award winning author, journalist and Gallipoli historian, Dr. Johnathan King. The Australian Commonwealth Military Forces Emblem struck in "gold" on the obverse is striking.                                                         Sands of Gallipoli Limited Edition Medallion - Leaving Australia       This Proof Quality Coin/Medallion comes in a sealed clear capsule and black presentation case + the Certificate of Authenticity.                                                               N0TE  ~                                                            { We now have 1 Lone Pine available at $65 }   Please note that there are four (5) different themes or designs in this series currently available:   Leaving Australia, The Battle of the Nek, The Landing, Retreating with Honour,  Lone Pine THE ONE FEATURED HERE IS "LEAVING AUSTRALIA"   ~  PLEASE ADVISE WHICH DESIGNS YOU WANT.   Here are details of others available  ~ Sands of Gallipoli Limited Edition Medallion - Leaving Australia As the first troops of the newly formed Australian Imperial Force set sail for war on November 1st 1914, they did so with a selfless instinct to help "the Mother country". This attitude, buoyed by Prime Minister Andrew Fisher's commitment to help Britain "to our last man and our last shilling", spread rapidly across the nation as reports of Australian gallantry at Gallipoli filtered home. Man and boy alike rallied to embark for battle and for adventure. By the end of the war more than 331,000 Australians had volunteered and fought overseas in the AIF - the only all-volunteer army in the war.             Sands of Gallipoli Limited Edition Medallion - The Landing At 4.30am on April 25th 1915, as dawn's first dim light illuminated the narrow beach and towering cliffs of the Gallipoli Peninsular, the first wave of Anzacs landed amid a torrent of enemy fire. These, the brave men of the AIF 3rd Brigade under Major General E.G. Sinclair-MacLagan, relentlessly charged the waiting Turkish soldiers, pushing across the beach and up the steep cliffs, forcing their foe back. Within 24 hours, despite continued and fierce enemy fire, 12,000 troops were ashore and the beachhead held. But a great cost was exacted in this the largest amphibious invasion of its time. In just one day 2,000 Australians had given their lives on the beach at Gallipoli. The battle lines were set. Sands of Gallipoli Limited Edition Medallion - The Battle of Lone Pine Consigned to their trenches since the Gallipoli landing, the Anzacs and Turkish Army were pitted in a deadly stalemate - the Anzacs unable to expand their territory, the Turkish unable to regain lost ground. But on August 6th 1915, in a desperate rush of audacity, Australian soldiers from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Brigades charged across no man's land, through withering enemy fire, toward Lone Pine. The Turkish trenches, even though covered with logs, were overwhelmed by a resolve unmatched. As one of the greatest allied victories of the Gallipoli campaign the bloody battle for Lone Pine was testament to the Anzac's bravery. In capturing Lone Pine seven soldiers won Victoria Crosses for outstanding gallantry. Two thousand Australians gave their lives.   Sands of Gallipoli Limited Edition Medallion - Retreating with Honour After nine months defiantly defending a hopeless position the Anzacs decided to break the stalemate and slip quietly away. On December 18th and 19th 1915, in a masterly operation of subterfuge organised by Australia's General Brudenell White, more than 40,000 troops were evacuated without the loss of a single man. Although the Anzacs had not captured the Gallipoli Peninsula both ally and foe respected their courage and persistence. Of the 50,000 Australians who served at Gallipoli 8,709 died. New Zealand lost 2,701 men. The surviving Anzacs moved to the Western Front to take up the fight again - with the same spirit and fortitude that shaped the Anzac legend on the beaches of Gallipoli. Sands of Gallipoli Limited Edition Medallion - The Battle of The Nek One of the bravest, yet ill-fated, charges mounted by Australians at Gallipoli was the attack on the Nek. In the cool dawn air of August 7th 1915 at 4.30am a whistle signalled the charge. Out of the trenches poured the young Anzacs of the 8th and 10th Light Horse Regiments to be greeted by the waiting massed rifles and machine guns of Turkish defenders. Four waves of young Anzacs responded to the shrill whistle and charged into no man's land and the waiting onslaught. Within minutes 234 young Light Horsemen were struck down. The futile attack was halted but the selfless bravery shown that morning will live on forever in the Anzac legend.