On Thursday,September 17, Roger Coleman MBE from the Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum will be leading a talk about the Hampshire Regiment in Gallipoli.

The ill-fated Dardanelles campaign from 25 April 15, 1915 to January 9, 1916 saw three battalions of the Hampshire Regiment involved; the 2nd, 8th and 10th.

Casualties from both combat and sickness took its toll and well over 1000 Hampshire soldiers died.

Against a determined foe, the Turks, the regiment fought bravely and resolutely winning one Victoria Cross and many other medals.

Following the withdrawal, the battalions went their separate ways - the 2nd to the Western front, the 8th to Palestine and the 10th to Salonika. This is the story of one regiment’s part in an epic campaign of the Great War and the centenary of which is commemorated this year.

Roger Coleman joined the Hampshire Regiment in 1954, eventually rising to the rank of Regimental sergeant major. He served in many places around the world before retiring in 1981. He currently works as a volunteer at Petersfield Museum.

This talk will accompany the new exhibition at Petersfield Museum, ‘Military History of Petersfield and Beyond’ which opens on Tuesday, September 15.

Talks take place at the Physic Garden; starting at 7pm. Refreshments will be provided.

Tickets for the talk are £5 (£4 to members and volunteers) and should be purchased in advance from the Flora Twort Gallery. For more information please call Amanda on 01730260756.