Heroic Last Days of the ANZACs on Gallipoli, by Gen Sir John Monash | 12 - 20 December 1915 | Episode 101

Once the momentous decision to evacuate the Peninsula had been taken, great secrecy had to be maintained so that the Turks should have no inkling of what was contemplated.

So well was the enemy bluffed that between December 10 and 20 no fewer than 83,000 men, together with guns and transport, were evacuated from Anzac and Suvla, and there were very few casualties.

General Monash, then commanding the 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, tells the astounding story of this bloodless and silent retreat, which he reasonably enough considers to be 'the greatest joke-and the greatest feat of arms in military history.' 

The description of the evacuation was written in diary form and sent subsequently to Lady Monash.