The Battle of Krithia was a series of Allied assaults during the Gallipoli campaign in 1915, aimed at capturing the strategically important village of Krithia and the heights of Achi Baba from the Ottoman forces. These offensives, fought between April and June, involved British, French, and ANZAC troops attempting to push inland from Cape Helles. The first attack on April 28, the Second Battle of Krithia on May 6–8, and the Third Battle of Krithia on June 4 all resulted in heavy casualties and minimal territorial gains. Poor planning, strong Ottoman defenses, and difficult terrain contributed to the failures. The inability to capture Krithia highlighted the overall difficulties of the Gallipoli campaign, leading to its eventual abandonment by the Allies. 

Minecraft re-enactment of the New Zealanders’ experience in the 2nd Battle of Krithia at Cape Helles in May 1915. 

Landscape fly-through of the Gallipoli Minecraft world to better understand locations relating to the New Zealand soldiers’ experience and the connections to the Auckland Museum Documentary Heritage Collection. Gain a better understanding of where the Anzacs were, what specific locations were used for and what the landscape looked like. 

At Gallipoli, The Sphinx is a distinctive rocky outcrop that overlooks Anzac Cove, named by ANZAC troops for its resemblance to the famous Egyptian monument. Towering above the battlefield, it became a significant landmark during the Gallipoli campaign of 1915. The Sphinx was part of the rugged terrain that made the ANZACs' advance inland extremely difficult, with its steep cliffs providing a natural defensive advantage to the Ottoman forces. Many soldiers had to scale these harsh slopes under constant enemy fire, making the campaign even more grueling. Today, The Sphinx remains an iconic feature of the Gallipoli Peninsula, symbolizing the challenges and bravery of the ANZAC troops. 

The Daisy Patch was a notorious section of the battlefield at Gallipoli, located near Krithia on the Cape Helles front. During the Second Battle of Krithia on May 8, 1915, the area was covered in wild daisies, creating a deceptively peaceful appearance. However, it became the site of a brutal and costly assault by ANZAC and British troops, including the New Zealand Infantry Brigade. As they advanced through the open ground, they were met with relentless machine-gun and artillery fire from well-entrenched Ottoman defenders. The attack resulted in heavy casualties, with many soldiers falling among the flowers, turning the Daisy Patch into a tragic symbol of the Gallipoli campaign’s horrors. 

Cape Helles was the southernmost landing site of the Gallipoli campaign, where British and French forces launched their main offensive on April 25, 1915. The objective was to capture the high ground of Achi Baba and push inland, securing control of the Dardanelles. However, strong Ottoman defenses, difficult terrain, and poor Allied planning led to a series of bloody and unsuccessful battles, including the First, Second, and Third Battles of Krithia. Despite months of fighting and heavy casualties, the Allies failed to achieve significant territorial gains. Cape Helles remained a fiercely contested battleground until the eventual Allied evacuation in January 1916. Today, it is home to several war memorials, commemorating the thousands of soldiers who fought and died there. 

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