The British heroic-romantic myth of Gallipoli

Macleod, J.

Abstract

One of the most notable focuses of interest in Gallipoli in Britain is Holy Trinity Church in Eltham in south-east London. Its lady chapel is dedicated to the campaign, and a memorial service or lecture has been held there annually. The connection between Eltham and Gallipoli comes from the Reverend Henry Hall who was chaplain of the 29th Division during the campaign and returned to his position as Vicar of Holy Trinity after he was invalided and demobilised in 1916. Hall was so moved by his experiences at Gallipoli that he resolved to establish a memorial to the men of his division. The St Agnes Chapel at Holy Trinity was transformed into the Gallipoli Memorial Chapel and dedicated as a permanent memorial to the 29th Division. It was unveiled as such by General Sir Ian Hamilton on 25 April 1917.

It was Hall who sparked off my interest in Gallipoli through a letter he wrote to General Sir Ian Hamilton in April 1920. Hall had read Hamilton’s Gallipoli Diary, and felt moved to write to the general,

Anyhow your book gave me an illustration in last evening’s sermon for ‘the right spirit’. I told my people of the [illegible] glory and sadness of your book – and that we who served under you loved and honoured you chiefly for your ‘spirit’, your chivalry.

Citation

Macleod, J. (2004). The British heroic-romantic myth of Gallipoli. In J. Macleod (Ed.), Gallipoli : making history (73-85). London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203489314

• Online Publication Date: Jul 1, 2004
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2004
• Deposit Date: Jun 28, 2021
• Journal: Gallipoli: Making History
• Publisher: Routledge
• Pages: 73-85
• Book Title: Gallipoli : making history
• Chapter Number: 4
• ISBN: 9780714654621; 9780415647908
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203489314
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/482405