| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM00317 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Flag |
| Physical description | Wool |
| Location | Main Bld: First World War Gallery: The Anzac Story: Gallipoli: The Grand Plan |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Date made | c 1914-1915 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Ordnance Depot flag, Gallipoli : Major John Gardiner Austin, Australian Army Ordnance Corps
Description
Triangular dark blue wool bunting signal flag with a large red dot in the centre. The flag is frayed at the tip and has several holes.
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History / Summary
Ordnance Depot flag flown at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 and noted as being the first flag flown after the landing. Shortly after the 3rd Brigade landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, Lieutenant Colonel John Gardiner Austin arranged for a small arms ammunition depot to be established near Hell Spit among the dead and wounded. He raised this flag, an ordnance pennant, within hours of the landings. The pennant continued to be used throughout the campaign at the depot on Brighton Beach.
Newspaper articles from September 1915 describe the flag as follows "...On the beach is the first British flag ashore. It is the ordnance flag, sadly frayed and torn. It is stuck on a boat hook and tied to a stake very loosely held in the sand. Colonel Austin points to it with pride..."