sober and painstakingly accurate and sought to convey within the limitations imposed on him, something of the experience of the Australians at the front." As no official photographer was appointed to cover Gallipoli Bean also recorded events with a camera. The AWM's official photograph collection contains 1100 of his prints covering the first convoy, Egypt and Gallipoli. Bean left Gallipoli on the night of 17 December 1915, watching and recording from the deck of HMS Grafton the A.I.F's final evacuation of Anzac Cove. Bazley had left for the island of Imbros on the previous night with the 150 contributions for The Anzac Book which was initially conceived as a New Year magazine for the troops on the Gallipoli peninsula. The evacuation of the forces, however, lead Bean, assisted by Bazley and a committee, to re-characterise the book to commemorate the time spent by the Anzac troops at Gallipoli. Almost every piece of art, prose and verse was created in the trenches by the soldiers who, despite being under constant enemy fire and in conditions of hardship and deprivation, managed to scrounge bits of paper, pens and pencils, and to use improvised items. Bean contributed photographs, drawings, and two pieces of verse: 'Abdul', acclaiming the Turk as an honourable opponent, and 'Non Nobis,' questioning why some, including Bean himself, had survived the Gallipoli fighting while others had not survived. The Anzac Book, subsequently published in London in May 1916, became a reminder of the endurance, reckless bravery and humour in adversity of the original Anzacs, qualities that have come to characterise 'the Anzac spirit.' Although The Anzac Book presented a specially crafted image of the Anzac soldier, Bean did not want the historical record altered because of selective editing for its initial intended purpose. In February 1917, he wrote to the War Records Office with a suggestion that important documents – such as The Anzac Book manuscript and rejected contributions – be preserved so that they could one day be deposited in a museum. This request was granted and the rejected contributions can now be viewed in the AWM's archives. Western Front In late March 1916, Bean sailed with the A.I.F. from Egypt to France where he reported on all but one of the engagements involving Australian soldiers. As evidenced by his diary entries he moved back and forth along the Western Front with the Australian troops, often at the frontline