The Anzac Cove landings were part of the Gallipoli Campaign, an effort by the Commonwealth and by the French to remove Turkey from World War One. The troops were meant to land elsewhere but were erroneously dropped at Anzac Cove, which was a steep and difficult terrain.

Today, there are several memorials at Anzac Cove and it is the site where the dawn Anzac Day ceremonies are held.

Anzac Cove history

The 600 metre-long cove, surrounded by headlands (one of which known as Hell Spit), became famous when ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) troops landed there in April 1915. The troops’ first priority was to set up a protected area of beach where supplies and troops could land.

The cove was also within 1 kilometre of the front-line and the range of Turkish artillery at ‘Beachy Bill’ or the Gaba Tepe battery, meaning the ANZACs were continually bombarded by enemy fire. Although this did not stop 2 field hospitals and an enormous supply store being established at Anzac. Nor did it prevent soldiers from indulging in their one luxury while without chances to wash: swimming in the water.

Anzac Cove continued to be the main base of Australian and New Zealand forces throughout the 8 month campaign until Allied forces were evacuated from Gallipoli in January 1916, having failed to take Turkey out of the conflict. In 1985, the name ‘Anzac Cove’ was officially recognised by the Turkish Government and at North Beach, a commemorative site was built.

Anzac Cove today

Over a century since troops landed at Anzac Cove, the now quiet rugged coastline is a reflective spot for visitors interested in the history of World War One. The trenches still exist at the cove’s neck.

Just around the corner from where the ANZAC troops landed there is a memorial cemetery. It is worth hiring a local tour guide to give you a fuller view of the landings and activity at Anzac within the wider context of the Gallipoli campaign.

Getting to Anzac Cove

The easiest way to reach Anzac Cove is driving from Canakkale via the D550 and E87, which takes 48 minutes.

History of Lepe beach

To support landing craft and amphibious operations against Europe, Lord Mountbatten ordered the construction of special ‘hards’ around Britain’s south coast to enable the loading of two types of assault vessels, Landing Craft Tank (LCT) and Landing Ship Tanks (LST). At Lepe, the ‘Q’ hard was built in front of Lepe House and the larger ‘Q2’ hard was built at Stanswood Bay, with space for 4 LCT’s.

Lepe and the surrounding area came under the control of the shore station HMS Mastodon, and many hundreds of troops with their equipment, vehicles and ammunition were hidden along the narrow roads and in numerous closed camps hidden in the wooded areas across the New Forest in the build-up to D-Day.

From 31 May 1944 onwards, soldiers made their way down to the coast to embark onto the ships and landing craft that would take them to Normandy – some on the Lepe shore, others at sites to the east or west, notably in Southampton. Vehicles were loaded earlier, but the soldiers themselves embarked only just before D-Day, followed by those who would be landing on subsequent days.

The Lepe shoreline was also a site were parts of the Mulberry Harbours (artificial harbours) were built (including 6 type B2 Phoenix caissons), along with nearby Langstone Harbour and Hayling Island. Once moved across to Normandy after D-Day, these huge concrete structures formed part of the breakwater for the Mulberry Harbours that proved vital to D-Day’s success – allowing vehicles and goods to be unloaded onto the Normandy beaches.

Lepe beach today

The Lepe shore area is now part of Lepe Country Park (an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’), and remains of the area’s wartime past are still visible, including concrete blocks on the beach (which aided vehicles loading onto landing craft), several ‘dolphins’ that formed part of the pier where landing craft were moored while troops boarded, and a stretch of platforms and slipways where the Mulberry Harbours caissons were built and launched. There is also a memorial to the 4th & 7th Dragoon Guards east of the park at Stanswood Bay.

Today the long stretch of shingle beach is also popular with kite surfers and wind surfers, and the meadows and woodlands in the Park are protected habitats for wildlife, and well worth visiting too.

Getting to Lepe beach

The Lepe shoreline is on the south coast of England, just north of the Isle of Wight. The nearest large town is Southampton, approximately 16 miles away. It’s easiest to reach Lepe by car – drive west down the A33 into the A35, then head south down the A326, until the turn-off along Beaulieu Road (B3054), then follow Exbury Road/Summer Lane to reach Lepe, where a car park is available.

History of Old Harry Rocks

Thousands of years ago, Old Harry Rocks used to be part of a long stretch of chalk between Purbeck and the Isle of Wight that later eroded away during the last Ice Age. On the Isle of Wight, the Needles, another chalk rock formation which used to be connected to Old Harry Rocks, are visible from Studland Bay on a clear day.

There are a number of theories as to how Old Harry got its name; some say it was named after a famous local pirate called Harry Paye, or the devil himself. Indeed, the top of the nearby cliff is known as Old Nick’s Ground, and Old Nick is another name for the devil.

Nearby Old Harry’s Wife was another stack which was eroded through abrasion and corrosion until the bottom was so weak that the top fell away, leaving only a stump.

Old Harry Rocks today

Old Harry Rocks are a popular site amongst geologists and tourists alike. The route leading to Old Harry is popular with cyclists and walkers and is part of the South West Coast Path.

Near Old Harry are open grass areas where lots of people enjoy a picnic; similarly, the nearby village of Studland is home to lots of places to eat and drink.

Getting to Old Harry Rocks

Old Harry Rocks can be reached on foot from nearby Studland or Swanage. The nearest train station is Wareham.

Onawe Peninsula history

At the shallow head of the harbour between Barry’s Bay and Duvauchelle lies the once fortified Ngāi Tahu pā, Ōnawe.

The Onawe Peninsula was the site of a bloody massacre when it was invaded by the Ngāti Toa chief, Te Rauparaha in 1832 following the sacking of Kaiapoi in 1831.

Maori chief, Te Rauparaha, sailed with warriors from his tribe from the North Island, down to the South Island in order to exact revenge and to conquer.

Situated on a peninsula the pā was surrounded by the sea at high tide and Te Rauparaha established his warriors on both sides of the peninsula prior to the Battle.

The peninsula had 3 defensive areas: an outer wall at the neck and two main citadels higher up the crest. This formed the main defensive area defended by ditch, bank and palisade. Two long protected trenches ran to springs on the western side of the pā for water supply, with canoes also utilised to store additional water.

The Onawe Peninsula was defended by 400 people, but stood little chance against the power of Te Rauparaha and there were up to 1200 people massacred. Few Ngāi Tahu survived the day, only the young and strong were taken for slavery, the rest were slain on the flax flats at Barry’s Bay and the Head of the Bay.

Onawe Peninsula today

The Onawe Peninsula is the plug of the ancient volcano and is sacred land to the Ngai Tahu tribe. Visitors can enjoy the wonderful views and walk around but are asked to refrain from eating on site in respect for its tapu status.

Getting to Onawe Peninsula

To drive to Onawe Peninsula, take Highway 75 between Christchurch and Akaroa, and turn off on Onawe Flat Road, which loops around the near end of the peninsula. The Onawe Peninsula can be accessed at low tide only and walking time is approximately 1 hour return.

Sword Beach history

Assigned to units of the British 3rd Division, the landings at Sword Beach were the most eastern part of Operation Overlord, the allied offensive which led to the liberation of German-occupied France and subsequently Europe in World War Two.

Around midnight, British airborne troops, along with a battalion of Canadians, dropped behind enemy lines to secure the invasion’s eastern flank, just as the Americans were doing near Utah. Within minutes, they had taken hold of Pegasus Bridge over the Caen Canal and nearby Horsa Bridge over the River Orne.

Other airborne troops destroyed bridges over the River Dives to prevent German reinforcements from arriving, and they also took out a key German artillery battery in a bloody firefight.

The British then landed on Sword at 7:25 a.m., around the same time troops landed at Gold Beach, but before Juno. Although moderate fire greeted them, they soon secured beach exits with the help of the “Funnies” (newly designed British tanks).

Moving inland, they connected with the airborne units but faced relatively strong resistance in farmyards and villages. In a late afternoon counterattack, German forces made it all the way to the beach in one location, only to be turned back. The Allies would not be able to unite all five D-Day beaches until 12 June.

Sword Beach today

Today, Sword Beach is a clean and popular expanse of golden sand with good facilities including toilets and showers. In summer, you can find people playing sports such as football and volleyball on the beach as well as a number of attractions for kids such as a minigolf course and go kart track.

There’s also plenty of places to enjoy an ice cream or a snack, as well as several restaurants nearby.

For those looking to discover more about its place in history during World War Two, there are still remnants of the area’s historical past with memorials dedicated to the different British units and traces of gun turrets.

Getting to Sword Beach

Sword Beach’s address is 14880 Hermanville-sur-Mer. It is roughly a half-hour drive from Caen and is roughly 250km from Paris. From Paris, take the highway A13. Take the exit 29B towards Dozule, Cabourg, Dives, Houlgate with th roads D400 and D27.

At Varaville, take the D513 towards Le Mesnil, and still in the same direction, towards Benouville and Colleville-Montgomery to reach Hermanville-sur-Mer. There is free parking nearby.

Visitors from England can either take the Channel Tunnel to Calais and drive or take a ferry directly to Normandy.