The initial landing occurred in total darkness on the morning of Sunday 25 April. First ashore was the 3rd Brigade (QLD, SA, WA, Tas) who were bunched together at the northern end of the correct landing beach, later known as Anzac Cove. The morning’s objective was a hill about two miles inland known as Mal Tepe, from which the straits of the Dardanelles and its forts could be seen. The troops charged inland against some spirited but brief resistance from about 80 men of the Ottoman 27th Regiment across the First Ridge (later known as Plugge’s Plateau) and up onto Second Ridge. Here in the emerging daylight they encountered stiffer opposition by Ottoman soldiers rushing forward to oppose the advance. Some small Australian parties reached Third Ridge, but were turned back. The next ashore were the 1st Brigade (NSW) and the New Zealand Brigade who were unfortunately turned aside from their given objective of Third Ridge to support heavy fighting on the northern part of Second Ridge. As a result, the opportunity of moving quickly forward to the high ground at Mal Tepe was lost on the first morning. By 2 May both sides had fought to a standstill and had developed trench systems which in some places were only yards apart.
