The Edexcel commentary is incorrect in its assertion that "Gallipoli" is about the First World War. The poems are based on the writings of William Russell, who did not comment on the First World War - he was dead by then. This poem refers to the run-up to the Crimean War, when British Troops were billeted in Gallipoli, then in Turkey, part of the Alliance against the Russians. Of the seven poems in the full sequence, only one is not set in the Crimea - Sedan, which was involved in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 - 71 for which Russell was also the War Correspondent.
The Edexcel commentary is incorrect in its assertion that "Gallipoli" is about the First World War. The poems are based on the writings of William Russell, who did not comment on the First World War - he was dead by then. This poem refers to the run-up to the Crimean War, when British Troops were billeted in Gallipoli, then in Turkey, part of the Alliance against the Russians. Of the seven poems in the full sequence, only one is not set in the Crimea - Sedan, which was involved in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 - 71 for which Russell was also the War Correspondent.
ReplyDeleteApparently this has now been corrected on Edexcel's website. Don't trust Edexcel implicitly - they can be sloppy. BUY MY NEXT BOOK INSTEAD :)
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