New edition of standard history of Gallipoli reflects major revision of official numbers

First published in 1984, Gallipoli: The New Zealand Story is a key work in the nation's history.

In the words of the NZ Listener, Christopher Pugsley's first book 'recast our vision of the iconic campaign and simultaneously redefined the art of military-history writing in New Zealand.'

From the initial Hodder & Stoughton publication, editions have followed from Sceptre Paperbacks, Reed Books (NZ) and Penguin Books, before Oratia issued the fifth edition in 2014 in a co-edition with British publisher Frontline Books. 

The book has become a definitive account of New Zealand's role in the disastrous 1915 campaign, when a British-led expeditionary force met the Turkish army in an attempt to wrest control of the Dardanelles. 

 

This sixth edition builds on a revision of New Zealand troop numbers at Gallipoli by scholars including the late Richard Stowers, David Green, John Crawford and Matthew Buck. 

In his preface to the new edition, Pugsley notes the conclusion of this research is 'that some 16,000–17,000 New Zealanders served on the Peninsula in the campaign, doubling the previously used official figure.'

In light of this and other new work, he has made extensive updates to the book, while retaining its engaging style and extensive photos.

Gallipoli: The New Zealand Story takes us to the campaign through the eyes of the soldiers — ordinary Kiwis whose memories speak through their letters and diaries. 

Gallipoli does justice to the reality of this pivotal campaign for New Zealand and provides the background story to Anzac Day.

The national memorial day marks the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings on 25 April 1915 by Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) troops.

'Gallipoli: The New Zealand Story has become the ‘go-to’ text on Gallipoli’ 

— Sir Jerry Mateparae

The Author

A retired Lieutenant-Colonel in the New Zealand Army, Christopher Pugsley was a lecturer in military studies here, in Australia and the UK. Among his many books are four others with Oratia: The Anzac Experience, Te Hokowhitu a Tu, The Camera in the Crowd  and Le Quesnoy 1918. He is historical director of the ‘Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War’ exhibition at Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, which has now been extended to 2025. A frequent visitor and guide to Gallipoli, Chris lives with his wife in Waikanae Beach.

Publication Date: 8 April 2022 |  ISBN: 978-0-947506-07-0 |  RRP $49.99

Paperback, 240 x 170 mm portrait, 400 pages b&w, 60 photos

Book giveaway: Gallipoli (2014)

First published in 1984, Christopher Pugsley’s debut book brilliantly captured New Zealand’s involvement in the 1915 campaign to wrest the Dardanelles from Turkish control. Established as the definitive history of this critical episode in the First World War, it went through three further editions before going out of print.

The impending anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign and the availability of new information and photos made a fifth edition a must. For Oratia, Christopher fully revised the text and brought in new content linked to his work as historical director on the seminal  Gallipoli: The Scale of our War at Te Papa, Wellington.

Published in October 2014 in a co-edition with leading British military publisher Pen & Sword, Gallipoli: The New Zealand Story was enthusiastically received by readers worldwide. It has since reprinted several times.

What sets this history apart is Chris’ ability to tell the story through the eyes of those who were there, drawing not only on letters and diaries but also his experience as a career soldier. It’s a remarkable balance of practical and scholarly history that he has carried on in further books for Oratia, most recently last year’s Le Quesnoy 1918.

Visit our Fb Page  to be in to win a copy of Gallipoli: The New Zealand Story! Prize available to New Zealand residents only. 

Competition closes on Monday 8 July, and winner announced on Tuesday 9 July.

Te Hokowhitu a Tu on Radio Live this Anzac Day

The Bookman Graham Beattie will be talking to Mark Sainsbury about the new edition of Christopher Pugsley's Te Hokowhitu a Tu: The Maori Pioneer Battalion in the First World War on Radio Live this Saturday, Anzac Day morning. 

http://beattiesbookblog.blogspot.co.nz/2015/04/te-hokowhitu-tu-maori-battalion-in.html

You can also listen to Christopher Pugsley's brilliant account of the Gallipoli campaign in last week's interview on Radio New Zealand's Saturday Morning show here.

Historian Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Christopher Pugsley is also the author of Gallipoli: The New Zealand Story (also a Libro International book), a brilliant and moving account of this defining campaign of the First World War, told through the eyes of those who fought and died in the unsuccessful effort to seize the Dardanelles from Turkey.

Gallipoli makes the Top 100

Gallipoli: The New Zealand Story is one of the New Zealand Listener's top 100 books of 2014 - and one of only five listed in the Science, History & Social Issues category.

Congratulations to author Christopher Pugsley for this well-deserved recognition, and all the team who worked on the new edition of this great book.

The New Zealand Listener is also giving readers a chance to win this and the other 99 books; just click on the link below to enter:

http://www.listener.co.nz/comps/win-the-100-best-books-of-2014/

Gallipoli The New Zealand Story, by Christopher Pugsley

M E D I A    R E L E A S E

Frankfurt, Germany

9 October 2014

Gallipoli

The New Zealand Story

Christopher Pugsley

Classic account of Gallipoli campaign published in new NZ and UK editions today

Gallipoli: The New Zealand Story is out today in a revised edition in New Zealand, and in a separate UK edition from leading military history publisher Frontline Books.

The book is also being showcased this week at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the world’s premier publishing event.

Charles Hewitt, Managing Director, of Frontline Books joined with Libro International’s Peter Dowling at Frankfurt to toast the new book.  

“We recognise Gallipoli as one of the essential accounts of this campaign and are receiving an enthusiastic response from booksellers in the UK,” Hewitt said.

Fully revised and with many new photos, Gallipoli is a brilliant and moving account of this defining campaign of the First World War, told through the eyes of those who fought and died in the unsuccessful effort to seize the Dardanelles from Turkey.

Release Date: 9 October 2014  |  ISBN: 978-1-877514-64-7  |  RRP $49.99

Paperback with flaps, 240 x 170 mm, 400 pages b&w

To arrange an interview with Chris, images or a review copy, contact:

Peter Dowling   027 614 8993 or peter@oratiamedia.com

Libro International, a division of Oratia Media

www.librointernational.com   |    www.oratiamedia.com