The Anzac Book sent to Alice Jean BOYLAN

The ANZAC BOOK was written and illustrated in Gallipoli by the men of ANZAC. In the later months of 1915 on Gallipoli, Charles BEAN and a British officer, Major S. BUTLER serving with Anzac Staff, had the idea of producing a magazine for the men still fighting in the Gallipoli trenches. In November 1915 BEAN, called for contributions for what was initially to be an ANZAC New Year magazine. All manner of interesting poems, drawings, art, stories were received from the men. They drew or wrote on and with whatever were available to them in the trenches. Monetary prizes were offered in seven different categories, including cover design, comic drawing, humorous prose, and verses.
After the evacuation from Gallipoli, BEAN and his assistant Arthur BAZELY, completed editing on the Greek isle of Imbros and after the Greek publisher fell through, arranged to have the work published in London by Cassell and Company. The first edition was a soft cover sold for 2 shillings and sixpence (25 cents) with the proceeds going to the benefit of Patriotic Funds connected with A & N.Z.A.C.
The book is composed of satirical and sombre pieces about the conditions of life at Gallipoli. It also provides a general outline of the April 25 landing at ANZAC Cove and the military advances, offensives and defensives undertaken in the following months until the eventual evacuation of the Allied forces at the end of December 1915. The introduction was written by General Sir W BIRDWOOD, who explains how he named ANZAC Cove on the Gallipoli peninsula after the ANZAC forces. Bean contributed an editor's note in which he outlined the harsh conditions that the book was produced in, the significance it had taken on, and acknowledged the contributors. The book was enthusiastically reviewed when it reached Australia in June 1916. Many editions and variations followed, mostly being sold to help raise patriotic funds to assist the wounded.
This book was sent to Alice Jean BOYLAN in Geraldton by her brother Private Frank Richard BOYLAN.