Richard Stowers published his 1st book about Gallipoli in 2005

He decided to follow up Bloody Gallipoli with a book focusing solely on New Zealand's Anzac heroes, timing the release with the centenary of the 2015 landings.

Heroes of Gallipoli: The Gallantry of New Zealanders on Gallipoli released 2015 to coincide with two of the most significant battles our Anzac troops faced during the eight-month campaign - Chunuk Bair and Hill 60.

Stowers' book details the bravery and distinguished service of men and women of the 1st echelon of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the campaign.

He was inspired to write the book due to a "disparity" between gallantry awards issued by Australia and New Zealand to servicemen. Just one New Zealand Anzac was awarded the Victoria Cross - Cyril Bassett - compared with Australia's nine.

"Our casualties were roughly in the same proportion, yet when it came to hand out awards it didn't seem so," Stowers told the Herald.

"We were denied gallantry awards by Lt-Gen Alexander Godley. He actually expected the officers to perform gallantly as a matter of course and didn't think they had to be rewarded."

Stowers hopes his new book will reveal the real heroes of Gallipoli.

Bloody Gallipoli has become known as one of the most comprehensive & accurate accounts of the campaign. Stowers hopes Heroes of Gallipoli will be seen in the same light

The Hamilton man is a graphic designer by trade but his interest in history, especially military history, was behind his foray into writing

"I am really interested in the personal stories of the individual soldiers, where they are talking about their experiences,"

"Every excitement, success, frustration, relationship, tragedy - all the moments of war & peace."

Stowers has been to Gallipoli a few times & has a very personal connection to the battlefields. His great uncle Frederick Stowers died there

"He is buried there & it's nice to have a grave there - to have somewhere to go rather than just a name on a panel