This article is about Plugge’s Plateau Cemetery in Gallipoli and is one of a series I have written on cemeteries and memorials of the campaign. I have also written guides to help you research soldiers who served in the British Army during the First World War:

Plugge’s Plateau Cemetery, Gallipoli

Plugge’s Plateau Cemetery contains the graves of twenty-one men who died in the Gallipoli Campaign during the First World War, of whom four are unidentified. The cemetery is located up a well-maintained and steep path which can be found behind Shrapnel Valley Cemetery. The cemetery is named after Colonel Arthur Plugge CMG (pronounced ‘Pluggy’) who commanded the Auckland Battalion whose headquarters were located there. Plugge’s Plateau was captured on the opening day of the Gallipoli landings, on 25 April 1915, and an artillery battery was set up here.

Of the seventeen identified casualties, twelve were killed on 25 April 1915, with the remainder dying between the 30 April and 30 May 1915. The last identified casualty to be buried in the cemetery was Gunner George Merry Gundry, who served with the New Zealand Field Artillery. All the men buried in the cemetery died serving with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). Due to emigration, many of the soldiers who served with the ANZAC forces had been born and bred in the UK, including George Gundry who was born at Gosport, England.

One of the soldiers buried in the cemetery is Thomas Kean who was killed in action on 25 April 1915 while serving with the 7th Battalion Australian Imperial Force. Thomas had enlisted on 19 August 1914, at the age of thirty-three. He had been born at Spring Hill, Creswick a town in Victoria and was working as a labourer. When he enlisted, Thomas was described as being 5 feet 8 inches in height (1.72 m), 11 stone and 5 lbs (72 kgs) in weight, with a chest of 35 1/2 inches (90 cm), a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. Thomas was a Roman Catholic. His Army Form B.103 notes that Thomas was “Buried on ridge above Anzac Cove”

As Plugge’s Plateau Cemetery is on a steep hill, it provides spectacular views over the surrounding terrain. You may need to fight through a bit of scrub to get the best views! The view below is of North Beach, with ANZAC Cove just to the left out of this photo. The clearing where the two cars are parked contains information panels. If you walk along the road away from Plugge’s Plateau you’ll reach the Suvla battlefield, passing other cemeteries on the way.