“Gallipoli Memories” is a book that hovers between archive and art. Compton Mackenzie joined the Royal Marines in 1915, spent most of the Dardanelles campaign working in Intelligence at Sir Ian Hamilton’s headquarters, and staying on the periphery of the battle. His forays to the front were periodic. The book, with its detailed descriptions, offers itself as a gold mine on the hinterland of Gallipoli: censorship, code-work, inter-ally friction, the Greek islands filling up with refugees and suspected spies, and the micro-politics between them. Entire subplots on the pursuit of the phantom Müller gang rarely appear elsewhere.
A fascinating insight into what life was like during the early days of WW1. Missed opportunities, failed campaigns and silk pyjamas; spy catching, press report writing and champagne with dinner. A classical education would have been an advantage as would the ability to read Greek. But it's an enjoyable and educational read nonetheless
