10 June 1915

HELLES - When the main fighting that followed Third Krithia finally petered out there were still a series of minor attacks to ‘straighten the line’ or to counter the equivalent activities of the Turks. Thus it was that Second Lieutenant Bertie Bradshaw found himself faced with an acute dilemma on 10 June. His regiment were occupying trenches including H11 to the right of Gully Ravine and they were being threatened by a Turkish sap pushed out from the communication trench leading in to the centre of the trench held by the Border Regiment. Bradshaw left this sad little note in his diary.

"The Company Commander asked Platoon commanders for list of subalterns and men from platoons who would volunteer for an attack on a Turkish sap which is getting perilously near 'B' Company's lines. It means a DCM for men who get through. It is hardly fair to ask for volunteers, work of this [kind] should he done by rota, I have volunteered of course, and I expect the rest of the subalterns will do also. Out here one does everything that comes ones way. Trusting in God." (Second Lieutenant Bartle Bradshaw, 1st Border Regiment, 87th Brigade, 29th Division)

The war diary gives the bare bones of what happened on the night of 10 June and the next morning.

Photograph: Captain Reginald Henry Hamilton Moore, 1/Border Regiment.

"Orders were received that the Regiment was to capture the enemy's sap and communication trench up to the ravine, the South Wales Borderers to attack a small trench near the communication trench simultaneously. Thirty volunteers were obtained including bomb throwers and 'D' Company under Captain le Mesurier was detailed to occupy the trench after the assaulting party had captured it. The party under Second Lieutenant Wallace crawled out under the parapet by two saps and rushed the enemy sap in spite of heavy fire, bayoneting or bombing all the enemy in the sap. They also captured about 200 yards of their communication trench in a very short time. 'D' Company occupied the trench and held it all night aided by a large supply of bombs. Second Lieutenant Wallace carried out the attack with great coolness and courage and Captain le Mesurier skilfully held the trench. Captain Harrison was sent down to verify the clearing of the sap and was slightly wounded in the chest whilst doing so. No. 10180 Lance Sergeant Friend, No. 9085 Sergeant A Elwin, No. 8157 Dr. D. Crone and No. 10463 Pte A. Mansell all showed great gallantry in the attack"

There is an addendum that gives more details of the attack and shows how poor Bartke Bradshaw met his end early next day.

Plan for night attack. The Turkish sap had approached to within 30 yards of 'C' Company's trenches and the enemy had sandbagged a small redoubt from which to throw bombs into our trenches. A line of old trench ran from this point right into C Comany's parapet, very similar to the situation at H11. The plan was for a storming party of thirty men (twenty-five from 'C' Company plus five from 'A' Company) under Lieutenant Wallace to crawl out of the saps already made by 'C' Company preceded by bomb throwers and dash the Turkish sap ahead. And then to move on down the Turkish trench towards the gully. As soon as the storming party had successfully stormed the sap head 'D' Company under Captain Le Mesurier was to move on in support and reoccupy the trench. This company was to debouch through cutting made in the parapet. The attack was timed to commence at 10pm. The SWB were to cooperate by rushing a small Turkish redoubt in their front. At 10pm precisely the storming party under Lieutenant Wallace crawled under the parapet and made for the Turkish sap & a hand to hand fight with bayonets and bombs proceeded but the Turks gave way and retreated down the trench to lines by the storming party, the opposition being slight. 'D' Coy now pushed on behind the storming party and the whole moved down the trench together. The men carrying sandbags and fork for improving the trench. Le Mesurier pushed on ahead and [illegible] with Wallace and together with the bomb throwers gradually pushed the Turks back. Captain Ward of 'C' Coy was killed by a bomb about 12 midnight but the attack was proceeding satisfactorily. Capt. Harrison was slightly wounded about 12 midnight. The following message was received from G.O.C.: "G.O.C. Division congratulates all ranks in the excellent work performed by them last night and feels confident that they will hold the ground gained at all costs" At 1am and again at 3.30am the enemy bombed the end of the communication trench. At 4.15am they retired. Our casualties were slight. About 4.30am the Turks made a counter-attack on the communication trench and Captain Le Mesurier was hit by a bomb. The men became a trifle demoralized & retreated about half way down the trench, the Turks occupying the portion vacated. Captain R. H. H. Moore happened to be in the trench at the time & rushing forward called on the men and successfully recaptured the lost part of the trench. He was killed by a shot in the head in doing so. His immediate and gallant action undoubtedly saved an awkward situation. Lieutenant Bradshaw was wounded in the counter-attack and died later. Lieutenant de Soissons was also wounded. Total casualties: 2 officers killed and 3 wounded, 12 other ranks killed and 33 wounded. The enemy fired about twelve heavy shells at the trenches during the day. 'A' Coy under Captain Mostyn relieved 'D' Coy in the captured trench and the barricade at the end was strengthened. Snipers successfully drove back bomb throwers who tried to come up and bomb the end of the trench.

Bartle Bradshaw and Reginald Moore are buried in Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery.

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SOURCES:
IWM Documents: B. Bradshaw, Typescript letter/diary, p.18
Internet Source: A wonderful resource - the Border Regiment Wiki speccifically

11 June 1915

HELLES - One very enjoyable, but little known, book containing Gallipoli material is Ivan Heald: Hero and Humorist. Sub-Lieutenant Ivan Heald, Hood Battalion, 2nd Brigade, RND, was a journalist who wrote a series of light pieces for the Daily Express describing his 'adventures' and vareid musings on life before the war. On the outbreak of war he had enlisted in the ranks and trained with the Royal Naval Division at Crystal Palace. Commissioned in February 1915 he was sent out as a reinforcement to join the Hood Battalion in June 1915.

I like Heald's gentle sense of humour. Here he reflects on how quickly he got used to the horrors of trench warfare in the front line at Helles.

"It has been fierce work, but now we are out of the trenches for a rest, and reinforcements are coming in. Ever since we landed we have lived under shell fire and bullets, but I am quite fit and cheery, and I am pleased to find that I never have the slightest qualm of fear. It is astonishing how one can look at things here without a tremor. The other night I was directing the digging of a trench, and one of my men called my attention to the fact that I was sitting on a dead Turk. Yesterday I went on eating my breakfast while three men were blown sky high just a few yards away. It was very weird that night I was digging the trenches because we were so near we could hear the Turks in front of us calling on Allah - long wails, for all the world like crying babies."

Heald survived Gallipoli but volunteered as an observer with the Royal Flying Corps and was shot down and killed aged 33 on 4 December 1916.

 

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SOURCE: I. Heald, Ivan Heald: Hero and Humorist (London: C. Arthur Pearson Ltd, 1917), p.160

 

12 June 1915

ANZAC - In early June 1915 there were great things afoot back in London. The Liberal government had fallen as a result of the shells scandal and other problems; although Asquith was continued as Prime Minister, Winston Churchill was forced to leave the government. The War Council was in charge of the strategic direction of the war was recast and it was significant that the name selected was the Dardanelles Committee. This new body consisted of six of the original War Council, five Conservatives and Kitchener. Both service representatives were dropped from the equation.

Photograph: Lieutenant General Sir William Birdwood, creater of the original August Offensive plans
Amidst all the political manoeuvring the Dardanelles Committee did not actually meet until 7 June. Hamilton had already asked for three more divisions in total, in addition to the 52nd Division that he had already been promised by Kitchener. For the moment he would have to make do with the 52nd Division. Everything else was left up in the air. Then there was a change of tack: Kitchener who considered evacuation far too damaging to even think of, decided that he was, after all, in favour of a full scale renewal of the campaign. The Dardanelles Committee agreed that Hamilton's request for four divisions should be met in full. As the 52nd Division had already been sent out to him as agreed on 10th May, the three remaining divisions of the first New Army not yet detailed for use on the Western Front, consisting of the 10th, 11th and 13th Divisions, would now also be sent to Gallipoli. This decision had been forwarded to Hamilton on 8th June. The question was what to do with the new legions? The answer came in a new plan being formulated by Birdwood for a break out to the north of Anzac to sweep through to capture Hill 971, the highest peak of the Sari Bair range, by surprise. On 11 June Hamilton checked the progress of the new scheme for what would be the August Offensives.

"Sailed over to Anzac with Braithwaite. Took Birdwood's views upon the outline of our plan (which originated between him and Skeen) for entering the New Army against the Turks. To do his share, durch und durch (God forgive me), he wants three new Brigades; with them he engages to go through from bottom to top of Sari Bair. Well, I will give him four; perhaps five! Our whole scheme hinges on these crests of Sari Bair which dominate Anzac and Maidos; the Dardanelles and the Aegean. The destroyers next took us to Cape Helles where I held a pow-wow at Army Headquarters, Generals Hunter-Weston and Gouraud being present as well as Birdwood and Braithwaite. Everyone keen and sanguine. Many minor suggestions; warm approval of the broad lines of the scheme. Afterwards I brought Birdie back to Anzac and then returned to Imbros. A good day's work. Half the battle to find that my Corps Commanders are so keen. They are all sworn to the closest secrecy; have been told that our lives depend upon their discretion."

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SOURCE: I. Hamilton, Gallipoli Diary, (London, Edward Arnold Ltd, 1920), p.288

13 June 1915

HELLES - The intensive fighting at Helles led to terrible conditions in the trenches. Captain Guy Nightingale, 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers, 86th Brigade, 29th Division, described the chaotic conditions.

"The trenches are awful - very badly made - narrow, not bullet proof and smell absolutely revolting from dead bodies. We are occupying Turkish trenches which we captured, but there is an absolute maze of trenches. We are all round the Turk and they are all around us too. The Dublin's trenches have their back to Achi Baba and face our base, the Turks being between them and us! We share several trenches with the Turks, with a barricade between and throw bombs at each other over the top! The whole place is up and down hill not in the slightest bit like the trenches in France. To get to our trenches we go 4 miles up a deep nullah with sides 200 feet high. There is a great barricade up right across the nullah at the furthest point we hold. To get into our trenches we go up a zig zag track and enter a hole in the cliff which leads into our support trenches and from them there are innumerable communication trenches leading into the firing line. Of course you can't show your head above the trench for a second, but have to look through periscopes or through peep holes. The smell is awful, though we throw down quantities of chloride of lime and creosote. We are always sapping and digging day and night, and so are the Turks, who in places are about 30 yards away and in others 100, and where we share trenches only the other side of the barricade."

 

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SOURCE: IWM Documents, Nightingale, letter dated 13/6/1915

 

14 June 1915

GALLIPOLI - Hamilton was getting more than a little tetchy as he responded to the impatient prodding and warnings from Kitchener back in London. Hamiltons men were still held back by the Turks on the toe of the peninusla and also the narrow beach-head at Anzac. It sounded like Kitchener was becoming concerned.

Photograph: Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State for War

"Kitchener sends me this brisk little pick-me-up: "Report here states that your position could be made untenable by Turkish guns from the Asiatic shore. Please report on this." No doubt - no doubt! Yet I was once his own Chief-of-Staff into whose hands he unreservedly placed the conduct of one of the most crucial, as it was the last, of the old South African enterprises: I was once the man into whose hands he placed the defence of his heavily criticized action at the Battle of Paardeburg. There it is: he used to have great faith in me, and now he makes me much the sort of remark which might be made by a young lady to a Marine. The answer, as K. well knows, depends upon too many imponderabilia to be worth the cost of a cable. The size and number of the Turkish guns; their supplies of shell; the power of our submarines to restrict those supplies; the worth of our own ship and shore guns; the depth of our trenches; the morale of our men, and so on ad infinitum. The point of the whole matter is this: the Turks haven't got the guns - and we know it: -if ever they do get the guns it will take them weeks, months, before they can get them mounted and shells in proportion amassed. K. should know better than any other man in England - Lord Bobs, alas, is gone -that if there was any real fear of guns from Asia being able to make us loosen our grip on the Peninsula, I would cable him quickly. Then why does he ask? Well - and why shouldn't he ask? I must not be so captious. Much better turn the tables on him by asking him to enable us to knock out the danger he fears: "From General Sir Ian Hamilton to Earl Kitchener. With reference to your telegram No. 5460. As already reported in my telegram, fire from the Asiatic shore is at times troublesome, but I am taking steps to deal with it. Of course another battery of 6-inch howitzers would greatly help in this."

Perhaps Hamilton was not so worried by the guns at Asia as their impact was mainly upon the poor old long-suffering French on the right-hand side of the Helles Peninsula.

 

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SOURCE: I. Hamilton, Gallipoli Diary, Vol. I, (London; Edward Arnold, 1920) , pp.294-295

 

15 June 1915

ANZAC - Sapper Cyril Lawrence, 2nd Field Company, Australian Engineers, AIF - Lawrence was working with the 2nd Field Company in building tunnels out in the Lone Pine area of 400 Plateau. These would later be used in the attack launched on 6 August.

 



Map of B Group Tunnels, Lone Pine.

"Up at 7.15am. Weather still simply glorious. There is a furious bombardment on as I am writing this - shells everywhere. Down the coast there is a monitor firing at 'something' and I can see the earth dying up by the ton. Really these high explosive shells are terrific. Am going to have a little snooze. Went to work about 3.45pm and found that the Turks had placed eighteen 8-inch shells all around our tunnel mouth. They must have tumbled that it is there. Later as we were having tea two shells passed just over our heads and burst just under the muzzle of Warren's gun. We were watching these when a man came up with a shell - a high explosive one - and asked for a hammer to open it up. I explained what a risk he was taking and gave him a hammer. He started to hammer away right amongst us. We immediately shooed him off and forgot all about him. By this time shells were bursting everywhere round us and all of a sudden a terrific explosion took place just a few yards from us. A great cloud of dust rose up and we all thought that we were shot, but as it subsided we saw sitting in the middle of it the man with the shell. He was black from head to foot and groaning. Running over, we found that he had blown his leg to pieces up near the thigh. Thank God he got many from us. His mate did the same thing for himself last week. Some of these men will never learn sense. About 11pm tonight a Turk shoved his hand down the air hole in the drive just opposite me. It scared the wits out of us all. We could hear them crawling around above us all night. The men in the tiring line evidently shot one as we could hear him groaning just above us."

Lawrence also explained why and how the tunnels were dug.

"It had been decided to establish our line in closer proximity to that occupied by the Turks. The idea was to sap out communications a sufficient distance and then to join them up with the new firing line. With this end in view a start was made on the 27th and 28th May with what ultimately became B6 and B5 tunnels respectively. These two tunnelled exits were pushed through under the parapet with the intention of opening them out into saps as soon as they were some little distance out. Before this opening out process took place, however, it was considered possible to do the whole of the work underground and in comparative secrecy, including the recessing of fire bays and the living recesses for men occupying the trench. In regard to the actual fire bay it was intended to leave only four inches of soil overhead as camouflage, and then, when all was ready to break through the whole line in one night. Accordingly B5 and B6 went ahead as tunnels and were the commencement of the B group system which afterwards assumed quite decent proportions. All the B Group were shallow tunnels with an average of 18 inches of earth overhead. Except in rare cases, such as passing through shattered ground, timbering was not considered necessary, as the soil stood remarkably well, even under the strain of the various mine explosions. Tunnels were of an average size of five feet nine inches to six feet high and two feet six inches to three feet wide. In the case of the main tunnels, these were widened slightly just previous to the attack upon Lone Pine as they were to be used as communications for stretchers etc. As I am not an expert in the soil line, I cannot classify the different varieties met with, but I do know that they ranged from black earth to clay and from a hard kind of sandstone to coarse loose sand. At various times too, we came across pottery of a deep red colour and very fine and close in consistency. Another time I remember we came across strata of sand which a Sapper expert informed us was very similar to stuff in which rubies were found. Of course progress varied and would be anything from 4 feet to 8 feet in an eight hour shift. Work was continuous in three shifts of 8 hours each from l2 midnight until 8am, 8am until 4pm, then 5pm until 12 midnight. For the first few weeks, the actual picking was done by the sappers with Infantry to remove the soil, but later the Infantry did the whole job whilst one Sapper would have two drives under his supervision. The spoil was placed in sandbags in the tunnel and then carried by the Infantry party to the dump. This was usually situated some distance down a communication trench and away from the tunnel mouth. Illumination was by the use of candles only. These, when wax ones were issued, served a double purpose both as light and as an addition to the rations; the Infantry especially looking upon them as a delicacy. At times the supply of candles ran out, and mining had perforce to cease whilst a search was made for candles amongst the dugouts of the staff on the beach and the ships off the position. Ventilation was effected by the poking of a hole through to the surface every 15 yards. This was generally accomplished by means of an old bayonet on the end of a rifle. Owing to the presence of so many dead Turks in the ground through which we were tunnelling, these holes were very necessary. They also served to keep the drives at one level. At night time, great care had to be taken that they were blocked with sacking or something to ensure that no light was visible from above."

 

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SOURCE: C. Lawrence (edited by R. East) The Gallipoli Diary of Sergeant Lawrence of the Australian Engineers, 1st AIF, 1915, (Melbourne, Melbourne University Press 1981), pp.30-31 & 153-154, Map, p155

 

16 June 1915

HELLES - The Turkish shells could arrive in a flash with little or no warning. Medical Officer Joseph Vassall, 6th Colonial Regiment, Brigade Coloniale, 1st Division, CEO, had a close escape of 16 June when he stopped for a moment to watch a Zouave working party.



Photograph: Jospeh Vassell next to ammunition dump by Sedd el Bahr fort.

"I make my daily round, see my patients and later proceed to the hut of the secretaries of the division. I was there about 8.30. Some nine or ten soldiers, Zouaves, and police, are working in a big sand excavation about 3 yards long by 6 or 8 yards long. The whole is covered by logs and canvas, which makes a roof about the height of a man, except in the centre, where it is raised high to a point. Just at the moment when I was standing holding out a paper to my corporal secretary Saboul a crash was heard. It was very sudden. A 77mm shell burst in the middle of us, just at the height of the hut, on the left towards the sea. It spat out all its bullets, which were scattered all around in a wave of 4 or 5 yards. The case of the shell passed over my head through the opening of my tent, tearing the canvas on one side and burying itself deeply in the earth behind. I might have been decapitated. The canvas all around my head was perforated with pieces of shrapnel, any one of which was sufficient to kill me. A wooden post a short distance in front of me stopped a certain number of bullets. The tent shows a hundred holes. What did I feel? Opposite me, separated only by a table, I saw a man staggering and another to my right whose face was bleeding profusely. He rushed out, and I followed him. I saw in going out two inert bodies. I concentrated my mind on stopping the haemorrhage of the man I had followed. I succeeded, but not without difficulty. A doctor ran to help me and I called for stretcher-bearers and carriages. After having stopped the bleeding of this man, I turned to another wounded soldier. Pieces of shrapnel had passed through the chest, the shoulder and the left arm. I raised, revived and bandaged him. He was very courageous, and did not complain, but asked after his comrades. The third had been caught in the hip by a splinter which had penetrated the abdomen, and another piece had grazed his head. He talked, but a fatal pallor came slowly over him. The fourth was killed instantly. There were still two more. I will not go into details - four are dead. I did not really feel any shock until I reconstructed the scene in my mind after the departure of the victims. I realised what had happened and what might have happened, it gave me rather a shock, though I have seen and lived through much since 25th of April."

 

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SOURCE: Joseph Vassall, Uncensored Letters from the Dardanelles, (London, Heinemann, 1916), pp.131-132 (Edited)