Australian war historian and battlefield guide Mat McLachlan is currently on the ground in Gallipoli, sharing extraordinary new discoveries and firsthand insights into one of the most revered sites in Anzac history.
While leading one of his Signature Tours for 2025, McLachlan has announced the release of Gallipoli 2026 tours, with places on his 2025 departures still available to book.
Uncovering new stories on sacred ground
Reporting from the historic Gallipoli Peninsula, McLachlan revealed the discovery of newly exposed trenches and wartime relics brought to light after recent wildfires cleared back dense scrub. These findings are offering new depth to Australia’s understanding of the 1915 campaign.
“Every time I visit Gallipoli something has changed,” said McLachlan.
“There’s always something new to discover and new ways to tell the story of the Anzacs.”
Among the most powerful discoveries are Australian bullets and Turkish barbed wire found in the trenches at Johnston’s Jolly. “Finding a fired Australian bullet in the newly uncovered trenches provides an incredible connection to history,” said McLachlan.
“Even 110 years on, finding barbed wire segments in no-man’s land shows how this acted as a formidable defensive weapon. The Turkish wire was stronger and had longer barbs than the British—it made no man’s land almost impenetrable.”
Battlefield stories that resonate through time
The tour has also taken visitors to Krithia, the site of the Second Battle of Krithia in May 1915, where more than 1,000 Australians and 800 New Zealanders were killed or wounded. The site remains largely unchanged, offering a poignant and tangible connection to the past.
“Standing at the Redoubt Cemetery and reading inscriptions like that of Corporal Archie Odgers—who fought under the alias ‘Mark Wraith’—brings these stories to life,” said McLachlan.
“His epitaph, ‘Still Living, Still Loving, Still With Us,’ written by his family, speaks volumes.”
2026 Gallipoli tours now on sale
Following growing interest in battlefield travel, Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours has officially launched its 2026 Gallipoli program, including a mix of group and private departures:
- 4-day Gallipoli Discovery (15 September 2025)
- 8-day Anzac Day at Gallipoli (20 April 2026)
- 5-day Lone Pine Anniversary Discovery (5 August 2026)
- Private 2- or 3-day Gallipoli tours, available on demand
Travellers seeking a deeper connection to history can also walk the battlefields with Mat McLachlan himself. His 2025 Western Front Signature Tour departs Paris on 30 August (limited availability), with the 2026 Western Front Signature Tour scheduled for 31 August 2026.
A growing market for battlefield travel
Interest in battlefield travel continues to grow, particularly among Australians with personal or ancestral ties to the First World War. Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours offers a curated and respectful way for travellers to connect with key historic sites across Europe and the Middle East.
