Ottoman Counter Attack Gaba Tepe August 1915

[Davidwhitman]

According to an Australian newspaper the Argus 20 August 1915, a counter attack by the Ottoman Army at a post at Gaba Tepe was “one of the bravest attempts that had been made by the enemy to break the Australian and New Zealand line.” It further states that “It was discovered afterwards that the attack had been made by Armenians, who had tramped an average of 15 miles a day for three weeks on poor food. There had been forced marches from Constantinople, and the men had been sent into the attack as soon as they arrived, with the result that the tires men never had a chance of success. The Turkish assaults usually lack boldness.”

I would be very interested if anyone could provide me with archival material which can shed more light on this battle. The Australians had only realised the attackers were Ottoman Armenians after taking several prisoners. Where can one find more material on this?

David

[michaeldr]

David,

to help ID the Ottoman unit involved here, can you clarify - was the counter attack in AUGUST, or is that the publication date of the Australian newspaper?

regards

Michael

[Davidwhitman]

Dear Michael

Actually I assumed it was August because of the date of the article. It could have been earlier. Here is a transcript of the whole article if it may help.

Hard Driven Armenians

"Australians are always prepared to admire the man who has done something of exceptional merit, even if he happens to be an enemy. Recently there was a furious attack on one of the posts at Gaba Tepe, and it was pressed home with such vigour that the ground between the two lines of trenches was afterwards strewn with dead Turks. It was one of the bravest attempts that had been made by the enemy to break the Australian and New Zealand line. Some of the attacking party actually made their way right to one of the positions occupied by a Victorian unit, but our troops simply took their bayonets and rifles away from these enterprising enemies, and made them prisoners. It was discovered afterwards that the attack had been made by Armenians, who had tramped an average of 15 miles a day for three weeks on poor food. There had been forced marches from Constantinople, and the men had been sent into the attack as soon as they arrived, with the result that the tires men never had a chance of success. The Turkish assaults usually lack boldness. When ordered to rush the Australian positions, they climb on to the parapets of the trenches readily enough, but there they hesitate for a moment, and that delay means destruction. On the other hand, the Commonwealth troops spring to the attack like hounds from the leash, and sheer weight, if nothing else, would carry them through."

Regards David

[JoMH]

Hello David,

The following extract from the Evening Post, Vol XC, Issue 74, 25th Sept 1915, pg 12 - a New Zealand paper - under the title:

'The Turk A Fair Fighter'

An un-named colonel, 'now in Cairo' and 'writing to Major G Read, transport medical officer, who arrived in Sydney last week..'

Towards the end of his letter he writes:

"There are outrages in the Turkish lines. They drive Greeks and Armenian Christian conscripts up to the firing line. We frequently had wounded prisoners of this class."

Here is the link to the New Zealand Papers Past page for the whole letter.

By the way, I often speculate about the time taken for certain communications. Letters seemed to take two or three months between individuals. But weren't newspaper reports sent by cable?

Joanna

[michaeldr]

David,

This is a very difficult question for several reasons, but mainly the date

"Recently there was a furious attack on one of the posts at Gaba Tepe"

What does 'recently' mean in this context? Was there anything else from Gallipoli in the same edition of the newspaper which would give a clue as what the period was which it was reporting on?

The next point I would like to raise is, to what extent did the Ottomans used non-Anatolian (or equally, non-Moslem) forces in this important/sensitive theatre. For the Turk, this was their equivalent of 'the enemy being at the gates of Vienna'. As examples of what I am thinking of here see the Handbook of the Turkish Army 1916 (8th ed., Feb 1916 Intelligence Section, Cairo) With ref to the 26th Division "In September it entered the Gallipoli Peninsula. But the Turks are nervous of its temper, and for long did not use it as a first line unit. In Peninsula from November till evacuation of Anzac. Most of Arabs drafted out of 76th Regiment where only 300 remained in December 1915. 59th Regiment appears to be Turkish"

Elsewhere there is also a ref to '"workman" battalions largely composed of Christians....employed on coastal fortifications, roads and new railways.'

However, these doubts apart, there is at least one division which may fit:

13th Division [infantry Regiments Nos. 4, 46 and 60] "The 4th & 46th Regiments left Constantinople July 13th followed by the 60th; prisoners of 46th taken in Peninsula on August 7th, 1915...."

But, there is no indication of the ethnic or religious make up of this division

One final point here; the march down to the Gallipoli front was not unknown at this stage, since our submarines had made the sea voyage somewhat unpredictable for the Ottomans. Likewise, many of their supplies were also sent by road at this time.

Caveat; like all 'intelligence,' sometimes they get it wrong – it would be nice to hear from a Turkish GWF member on this thread to learn what they think

Regards

Michael

[Davidwhitman]

Dear Joanna

Thank you for the Evening Post article. It provides another source on how the Ottoman Turkish Army forced battalions of Greeks and Armenians onto the frontline.

Dear Michael

Thanks for your reference and insight into the role of non-Turks and non-Moslems at Gallipoli. It is well documented that Armenians and other Christians were formed into Labour Battalions by the Ottoman Army and used to dig trenches at Gallipoli. A letter from John Edward Gaynor, at Gallipolli, dated 21 November 1915, to his nephew in Australia states:

But the fact remains that the Turkish soldier does no work but these Armenians – Syrians and other Christians are herded together into battalions to do nothing else but digging and mining and it would be a boon and a blessing if we could get a working battalion, as my men spend half there time digging trenches etc. Source: AWM PR83/163

I would also be interested to hear from a Turkish GWF member on the role of Christians in the Ottoman Army at Gallipoli or anyone else who has come across information on this.

Regards

David

[JoMH]

Hello David,

Perhaps this is another example, this time from The Grey River Argus, 11 Dec 1915, pg 5.

"Massacring The Armenians" by Malcolm Ross - the NZ official war correspondent.

The article on the above subject is based on eye-witness reports:

"Recently two prisoners of war, who have fallen into our hands here have given the authorities a picture..." and later, "The narrator is an Armenian soldier, who was for a time on the Caucasian front, and later, was sent to Gallipoli."

Here is the link to the full article.

Joanna

[Davidwhitman]

Dear Joanna

Thank you very much for the link to the article. Actually John Edward Gaynor relates this same story in his letter to his nephew. Charles W. Bean the Australian correspondent to Gallipoli also writes about the same captured Armenian soldier. Here is the link to the full article by Charles Bean http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/artic...rmenian+horrors

David

[Jeff Pickerd]

David,

This report in the “Argus”, 20th August 1915 relates to the Turkish attack on the 3rd Light Horse Brigade positions at Russell’s Top, 29th/30th June 1915.

The Turkish attack was made by two Battalions, 2nd & 3rd, of the 18th Turkish Infantry Regiment, comprising around 1200 men, with estimates of casualties put at between 250 to 300 dead, and around 200 wounded.

There are four key points derived from this article that indicate that it was this attack being referenced.

1. The “Hard Driven Armenians” is but one article contained in the larger report of war news under the by-line of, “From Our Special Correspondent”. The Special Correspondent for the “Argus” was Charles Patrick Smith, who operated out of Egypt writing for the paper from official briefings. It was the normal practice by most papers of the time not to name the journalist responsible for the article, that being done only very rarely and in exceptional circumstances. He and Phillip Schuler from the “Age” newspaper received permission from General Ian Hamilton to visit Gallipoli, which they did for a month, between 20 July and 20 August. This put Smith on the scene for the Turkish attack on the 29th/30th June. All reports by the war correspondents were first vetted by the MEF GHQ censors based on the Island of Imbros, before being forwarded on to Egypt, and from there, sent to Australia. The war correspondents despatches could take anywhere from a month, or more, to arrive at the Australian newspapers, This would make the publishing date of 20th August accord to that time lag for an event on Gallipoli at the end of June.

2. “Furious attack on one of the posts at Gaba Tepe”. As is known, Gaba Tepe was never taken by the A&NZ Army Corps. Gaba Tepe was the most widely used generic name for the Anzac positon on Gallipoli up to that time, and derived from the maps issued for the landing on the 25th April, there being only two features named on these maps, Gabe Tepe and Fisherman’s Hut, both marking the boundry for the proposed landing, occupation and capture of the hights. Gaba Tepe, sometimes spelt Kaba Tepe, was used extensively by the press, in early published books of the campaign, and in letters and diaries to denoted the Anzac field of occupation. It would be the only means for the Australian readership to identife where on Gallipoli these reports were indicating based upon the published maps of the period. Not until after the August offensive would other now famous names become more widely known and recognized, i.e, Lone Pine, Walker’s Ridge. Ari Burnu, Courtney’s, Quinn’s and Pope’s Posts, etc, in newspaper articles. Therefore, it is of the Russell’s Top attack being reported upon under the generalized term of Gaba Tepe that gives no specific intelligence away.

3. Details within the report. Although the details within this report are largely exaggerated and distorted, there is a direct indication to it describing the attack of 29th/30th June. “it was pressed home with such vigour that the ground between the two lines of trenches was afterwards strewn with dead Turks. It was one of the bravest attempts that had been made by the enemy to break the Australian and New Zealand line. Some of the attacking party actually made their way right to one of the positions occupied by a Victorian unit…” There has been a great deal recorded of this Turkish attack within publications, letters and diaries, and the war diaries of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade, 8th & 9th Light Horse Regiments. All give accounts of respect and praise to the bravery of the Turks during their attack, of Turkish troops getting into the Light Horse trenches, of the bodies lying between the two lines after the attack, of bodies and wounded being dragged into the Australian trenches, and the capture of twelve to fourteen prisoners, with mention of Armenians. It could be suggested that the story was relating the major Turkish attack of the 19th May, but the time lag to publication is too long, and the referencing of this attack to Gaba Tepe, the Australian and New Zealand line, a Victorian unit, would disocclude that to be the case.

4. The Armenian Prisoner/’s. Much of what has been submitted here already does fall into line with the information obtained from the Turks captured on the 30th June. The following official accounts give a background to the information obtained and of the Armenian prisoner. Although these reports do not give the full range of information obtained from the prisoners, as outlined by the other posts, the accounts of officers and men who were there do support these other details.

3rd L.H. Bde War Diary, Thursday 7th June 1915: Much useful information from one of our captured prisoners. Attack 29.30 on us was carried out by 18th Regt (3 Battalion): Enver Bey present, Esard Pasha on 7 Army Div. Turks mentally fear our bombs and accurate rifle fire: Food good: Ammunition plentiful: There were 3 maxims immediately in front of us – one placed out of action.

Battalion commanded by Turkish officers who drove their men forward. 2nd Battalion attacked supported by 3rd: suffered heavy losses & retired. Turks would like to come in if they could. 2 white starlights signal for general attack. German officers in charge of guns. We have been burying Turks all day.

M.E.F. GHQ War Diary: Intelligence Summary: - Imbros – 30-6-15. Anzac reported the capture on June 30th of 14 prisoners of the 18th Regiment, one of who had since died.

M.E.F. GHQ; Intelligence Summary: - Imbros – 2-7-15. An Armenian prisoner, Warrant Officer in the 18th Infantry Regt, who was taken prisoner in the course of the Turkish night attack on the Anzac position of June 29th, stated most positively that ENVER PASHA had visited the Turkish lines that day and inspected the Troops in the trenches. He had heard that the previous orders which had been given to remain on the defensive, on account of the heavy losses sustained in attacks, had been over-ruled by Enver Pasha, and his regiment which had arrived recently in the firing line and had not taken part in offensive movements, was ordered to attack. The operation was badly carried out, chiefly owing to a scarcity of officers and want of proper leading, the officers refusing to leave the trenches and the two battalions of the 18th Regt which took part in it suffered very heavy losses.

Capt Aubrey Herbert, an English officer who was an interpreter on Gen Godley’s staff; who spoke fluent Turkish has left an account of the scene in the trenches on Russel’s Top after the attack in his book, “Mons, Anzac & Kut”: “July 1st, 1915. Anzac. I examined the prisoners, amongst them a tall Armenian lawyer, who talked some English. I asked him how he had surrendered. He said: " I saw two gentlemen with their looking glasses, and came over to them." By this he meant two officers with periscopes. He said that the psychology of the Turks is a curious thing. They do not fear death, yet are not brave. . . .No water came in yesterday. The storm wrecked the barges and the beach is covered with lighters. We got brackish water from the hill. I could not get to Jack for work. At lunch I heard there were wounded crying on Walker's Ridge, and went up there with Zachariades. We found a first rate Australian, Major Reynell (9th LHR). We went through the trenches, dripping with sweat; it was a boiling day, and my head reeled from inoculation. We had to crawl through a secret sap over a number of dead Turks, some of whom were in a ghastly condition, headless and covered with flies. Then out from the darkness into another sap, with a dead Turk to walk over. The Turkish trenches were 30 yards off, and the dead lay between the two lines. When I called I was answered at once by a Turk. He said he could not move. I gave him a drink, and Reynell and I carried him in, stumbling over the dead among whom he lay. I went back for my water-bottle, but the Turks began shooting as a warning, and I had to go back into the trench. An awful time getting the Turk through the very narrow trench. I got one other, unwounded, shaming dead. We threw a rope, and in he came. The taking of the second Turk was a curious episode that perhaps deserves a little more description than is given by the diary. The process of catching Turks fascinated the Australians, and amongst them an R.A.M.C. doctor who came round on that occasion. This officer prided himself upon neatness and a smart appearance, when the dust and heat of the Dardanelles had turned every one else into scallywags. After he had attended to the first wounded man, he pointed out the second Turk lying between our trenches and the Turks' and only a few yards from either. "You go out again, sir," said the Australians; "it's as good as a show." I, however, took another view. I called out to the Turk: "Do you want any water?" "By God," he whispered back, "I do, but I am afraid of my people." We then threw him a rope and pulled him in. He told us that the night before he had lost direction in the attack. Fire seemed to be coming every way, and it had seemed to him the best plan to fall and lie still amongst his dead comrades. The doctor gave him some water, with which he rinsed his mouth, and I left him under the charge of the R.A.M.C. doctor. This is what happened subsequently. They had to crawl back through the secret sap, from which the bodies of the dead Turks had by that time been removed and left at the entrance. The Turk was blindfolded, but he saw his dead comrades, over whose bodies he had to step, he leapt to the conclusion that it was our habit to bring our prisoners to one place and there to kill them. He gave one panic-stricken yell; he threw his arms round the neck of the well-dressed officer; they fell and rolled upon the corpses together, the Turk in convulsions of fear clinging to the neck of the doctor, pressing his face to the faces of the dead till he was covered with blood and dust and the ghastly remains of death, while the soldiers stood round saying to the Turk: "Now, don't you carry on so.”

As can be seen from Captain Herbert’s account, the various details offered up stem from his interrogation of the Turks captured on the 30th June. It can also be assumed that the war correspondents were briefed with much of the information obtained.

It is just how this information was reported that is questionable. It could have been due to censorship stipulations, or an over enthusiastic desire to put the best spin on the story for Australian consumption, or a combination of both.

Jeff

[Davidwhitman]

Dear Jeff

Thank you very much for such an insightful and well researched answer. You have helped me better contextualise the article and events which took place during and after the attack.

I appreciate the references you have provided. It looks like I will need to direct my research to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade and 8th & 9th Light Horse Regiments.

Apart form Aubrey Herbert's book, are there any other books which you know would contain information on the June 29/30 attack?

Cheers

David

[Jeff Pickerd]

Hi David,

Thank you for your kind words of probably undeserved praise. The Argus article caught my attention, and as I have endeavoured to outline, it was just all to familiar with regard to the Turkish attack on Russell's Top, 29th/30th June.

I'm afraid I have little time to respond more fully at the moment, other matters getting in the way, but wished to quickly acknowledge your reply.

I would recommend as a starting point to learn more of the Turkish attack you start with the "Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18, Vol II, Chapter X, pages 307 to 319.

The link to the on-line history from the AWM -

http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/first_worl...p?levelID=67888

There are many other publications that cover the attack, but all of these draw heavily upon the work of C.E.W. Bean.

Your next step from the Official History is the on-line war diaries of the 3rd L.H. Bde, 8th & 9th L.H. Regt's, again from the AWM web site.

Always check for appendices towards the end of each record, and make sure you access both the June and July entries for each unit.

I will follow up with further information and reference publications when I am able.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Jeff Pickerd]

David,

Just briefly back to submit another piece of information to the Turkish attack, my Grandfathers account of the battle.

He was Squadron Sergeant Major George William Fuzzard, No. 50, "C" Sqdn, 8th L.H. Regt.

At the time on Gallipoli, Sgt, "D" Troop, "A" Sqdn, 8th L.H. Regt.

“The evening of the 29/6/15, 09 p.m. everything appeared as quite usual, then an occasional bursts of fire from the Turkish trenches warned us that there was something unusual to take place later. At 12.30 the real alarm took place when several of them were to be seen in the front of our trenches. The real danger then lie in their attempts to put us out of our trenches by the use of bombs. At this time it was very suitable for the moon was blotted out by a large black cloud. These small parties were checked but came on later in strong numbers over a small front. It was then we opened fire on them in a volume, but by doing so was the cause of attracting their big gun fire. This done no damage to us, they were evidently aiming higher to avoid their own men. When the enemy were close the use of flares and the aid of a searchlight from a Torpedo boat in the cove exposed them to a hot fire from our men.

A determined effort of them to reach our lines was kept up till dawn. It was then we saw them retreating towards their own lines mostly singly. They would make a sharp dash but rarely did they succeed to regain the cover of their own trenches, for our rifles were too quick for them. After daybreak we saw the real affect of the fight, some of them were stopped only when they were actually in our own Saps. The ground was covered with bodies between their lines and ours. The estimated loss of theirs was put down to 250, 2 were taken prisoner and a few wounded brought in. The general appearance of them, they were rather roughly clad, some in uniform of various sorts, others plain dress. Equipment was different in pattern, mostly poor and worn, Ammunition in plenty. We gathered 100 rifles.”

Once you have read the account of the attack by C.E.W. Bean in the official history, and the war diaries, a much clearer pictiure of what transpired that morning will emerge.

More to follow later if you still want further information.

Jeff

[Davidwhitman]

Dear Jeff

Yes, please keep the references coming!

I have started reading Bean's History of the Australia in the War chapter X.

Cheers,

David

[Jeff Pickerd]

David,

Hopefully you have now read the official history and the war diaries. There are only two books that give a fair coverage of the Turkish charge, "The Nek" by Peter Burnes, and "Goodbye Cobber, God Bless You" by John Hamilton. It will depend upon what part of the globe you live as to gaining access to these works, "The Nek" has been long out of print, but John Hamilton's book is still readily available, and I would recommend it to you.

Both you and Michael have suggested that it would be good to hear of some Turkish accounts of the battle. I'm afraid there will be little that comes forward from that request. The Turkish official history "The Turkish General Staff, Ankara. A Breif History of the Canakkale Campaign in the First World War (June, 1914 - January, 1916)" makes no memtion of the attack of 29th/30th June.

I have made requests of my Turkish contacts in the past for any information of this battle from Turkish sources, but they have been unable to find any additional information from that which is already known.

OK, if you are now familiar with what transpired the morning of 30th June, it's time for the men who were there to tell the rest of the story.

The following is from my chronological history of the 8th Light Horse Regiment, and I will put up all I have found for the days of 29th/ 30th June, and the 1st July. What has been recorded has come from very many varying sources, some you will have already read, others have never been published. The vast majority of these accounts come from the officers and men of the 8th L.H. Others from the 9th L.H. 3rd L.H. Bde and associated units.

Turkish Attack 29th/30th June

29-6-1915 (Tuesday) – The Turks shelled Walker’s Ridge and Mule Gully occasionally during the day,

but it slackened off late in the afternoon.

Capt Day: “Reports of good success around Helles. Heavy bombardment off and on all night, still (5.15

p.m.) proceeding. Some heavy shells fell here this afternoon, one man killed. These are 8” shells said to

weigh over 200 pounds.”

Tpr Carl Holmberg: “I was on No.2 gun all day. The Turks had us busy dodging their big howitzer shells,

and an 8 inch shell landed in our trench but did not burst.”

Sgt Colin Cameron: “Fatigue Troop. ½ of Troop in firing line.”

Sig A. Callow: “Occasional shells fell amongst our camps during the day; one of our regiment was killed

by a shell while going for water. (Reg. Carr, Geelong) About 10.30 p.m. this evening a hot fusillade

from the enemy’s’ trenches took place which lasted for an hour; soon after the firing died down

hundreds of Turks were seen to be creeping up to our trenches until some of them were right upon us.

Then the fun started.”

Lt Carthew writing to his mother, reported: “Just a line to let you know that I am still going strong, had a

rather lively week in the trenches this time. Am sorry to say that Major Gregory and Capt Crowl were

both killed the other morning. A shell lobed in my dugout and burst and destroyed most of my goods,

am pleased to say I was not in it at the time, Captn McLaurin is our Sqdn Leader know. Major Deeble

is 2nd in command of the Regt... Well Mother our cook is yelling for me to come to tea and what do

you think, eggs are on the board, on ground I should say. We get fresh bread twice a week now I am

pleased to say.”

Sgt Major Worrall recorded in his diary: “Our men are very weary but wonderfully cheerful. We tried a

new style of bomb called the ‘Butterpat’. It consists of a two and a half lbs of gun cotton and a two

seconds fuse wired onto a piece of board with a handle like a butter pat. These were discharged from

No. 2 Sap, which is only 15 yards from the enemy’s trench. The result was more than we expected.

Earth was thrown from the Turk’s trench back into our firing line, 40 yards away, the earth shook as

from an earthquake tremor.”

Redge Mathers diary: “Tuesday 29th: Went to Dr this morning and he sent me to hospital. At night went

down to hospital base at beach and found I had bronchitis and pneumonia.”

Tpr Wilson: “Trumpeter Carr killed this morning by shrapnel. Cabled to mother. Went out last night but

could not get far on account of destroyer’s searchlight.”

Tpr Hill: “Belt filling. Had an issue of two eggs per man. Heavy bombarding at Cape Helles. Turks

attacked on right and left flanks. Got into the trenches twice on the left and lost heavily. Sergeant

Sweetland and I also got hit with a piece of lead and a big lump of dirt and Cpl Middleton killed. Also

five 8th and one ninth. Twenty five wounded including Len Butler and Charlie Dowling. Rego Carr was

blown to atoms by a 8 inch shell.” (Douglas Hill’s entry covers the events of the night of the 29th/

morning 30th.)

The following passage from the above entry was written in his special code: “Sargeant Sweetland and I

also got hit with a piece of lead and a big lump of dirt.”, and this has been incorporated into his diary

entry at this point.

L/Sgt Pickett entry of 30th June: “Last night was the counter attack and the Turks came off second best.”

At about 9 p.m. the Turks opened up a bombardment on Russell’s Top, with two 75mm guns positioned on

the main ridge, which ceased after about a half an hour. Most of the shells were poorly aimed and over

shot the forward trenches and landed further back on Russell’s Top, with little damage done.

At 9.30 p.m. a wild wind gust blew in across Anzac from the sea, picking up dust, pages from newspapers

and rubbish from the beach area and blowing a dense dust storm over the Turkish positions. At about

the same time several demonstrations were planned by the Australian forces, the Turks were convinced

that a major attack had started and they opened up a heavy fire along the front.

Full advantage of the Turks misconception was taken with star shells being fired and the men in the

front trenches firing flares and shouting.

At 9.30 p.m. the Turks commenced a fierce fusillade of rifle and machine gun fire from their positions at

Quinn’s and German Officers Trench, lasting for about an hour, then died down and ceased altogether

at about 10.30 p.m.

The 8th LHR held half the forward positions facing inland on Russel’s Top, with the firing line

covering the left half of the Turkish trenches on the Nek and around the edge of Monash Gully,

covering the positions on the Chessboard and overlooking Pope’s.

The firing line was manned by, “C” Sqdn holding the trenches in the centre of the Nek, extending from

the start of the Secret Sap, No. 1 Sap to up past No. 2 Sap.

“B” Sqdn, held the middle of the line directly opposite the Turkish trenches on the Nek from past No. 2

Sap out towards Monash Gully, incorporating the T Sap, ‘possibly No. 3 or 4 Sap’.

“A” Sqdn held the right of the line with their trenches looking onto the Turkish trenches on the far left

of the Nek and Baby 700, the Chessboard across Monash Gully, overlooking Pope’s and back to Bully

Beef Sap facing Quinn’s across Monash Gully.

The 9th LHR held the seaward side positions with their trenches on Walker’s Ridge out to the Secret

Sap on Russell’s Top, to their left, being accessed from No. 1 Sap and Broadway trench, also out to

Turk’s Point where their machine gun section trained their gun on the Turkish positions on the Nek.

Towards midnight the forward saps reported a great deal of movement in the Turkish trenches and soon

after Turks were observed creeping up to the 8th’s trenches. The men in the reserve trenches were stood

to and preparations were made to guard against an attack, with the men standing shoulder to shoulder

on the fire steps. Around midnight the enemy (3/57 Regiment) commenced a feint against Quinn’s

Post, which was quickly observed and beaten off.

The night was very dark with the moon blacked out by a large black cloud, which made it very suitable

for the Turks to mount an attack.

Tpr James (Jim) Dunn No. 283, “B” Sqdn, returned to duty from hospital on Lemnos.

SQMS L.T. Molony No. 188, “B” Sqdn, severely wounded by shrapnel whilst in the communication

trench on Walker’s Ridge, 27th June, evacuated to hospital ship HS “Sicilia”, but DOW later in the day

and was buried at sea. L/Sgt Pickett recorded in his diary on the 30th: “Our Q.M.S. who got the wound

in the leg the other day has since died.”

Tpr E. R. McGuinness No 323, and Tpr A. Nicholson No 325, were WIA.

“C” Sqdn’s, Sgt S. J. Sweetland No 457, “A” Troop, shot in the head by sniper on Russell’s Top in the

early stage of the Turkish attack, DOW 30th July.

Tpr Arthur Berry No. 346, wounded by bullet splinter to the left eye, admitted to NZFA, Anzac Cove.

Cpl J. T. Currie No. 348, Pte C. Henneberg No. 386, “C” Troop, were WIA.

Trumpeter R. I. C. Carr No. 561, killed by shrapnel shell on Anzac beach during the morning while he was

going for water.

Tpr Clive Newman wrote: “Tell Mrs Carr we are looking after Reg’s grave. All the 8th Light Horse are

buried together. We all are over here and I have a few things belonging to Reg which I’m taking care

of.”

Sapper Chas Jamieson: “Quiet during the day. Turks attacked at 11 p.m. during a bit of a thunder and dust

storm. We had 8 killed and 16 wounded. The Turks dead numbered at least 300.” (Recorded 30/6/15)

Tpr W. Campbell No. 687, (2nd Reinf’s), “C” Sqdn, WIA, evacuated with concussion and shellshock. RTA

aboard “Suevic” on the 8-10-1915.

Tpr P. Wood No. 471, “C” Sqdn, returned to Australia aboard “Horiata”.

Tpr F. W. Smith No. 669, (1st Reinf's). “A” Sqdn, MG Section, evacuated to Hospital.

Major J. C. O’Brien embarked at Suez aboard HT “Honorato” for return to Australia.

30-6-1915 (Wednesday) – After midnight small parties of Turks were seen in front of “B” & “C” Sqdn’s

trenches, who then attempted to put the Light Horsemen out of their trenches by the use of bombs.

These small parties were checked, but at 12.15 a.m. hundreds of Turks from two Battalions of the 18th

Regiment, sprang from their trenches with cries of “Allah, Allah” and charged the Australian trenches

in open order across the narrow front of between 25 to 30 yards, at the Nek. These were about 1200

hand picked men stated to be of the Sultan’s Body Guards.

A surprise by the Turks was not effected as men in the sap-heads forwarded back early information and

their initial fire caused the Turkish attack in the centre to diverge to the right.The men of the 8th opened

fire on them in such a volume it caused the Turkish line to swerve to the left again. One troop of “A”

Sqdn, 9th LHR were rushed into the fire bays of the firing line to give support to the 8th’s “C” Sqdn.

This brought the Turks on the right onto the forward saps held by the men of “B” & “C” Sqdn’s, of

which some of the Turk’s managed to get into.

L/Cpl Wallace, No.305 and Troopers, S. Brace, No. 280, H. Hayball, No. 288, S. Makeham, No. 631

(2nd Reinf’s), J. Deed, No. 284, G. Jeffries No. 315 and B. Sanderson No. 329, of “D” Troop, “B” Sqdn

were manning the forward “T Sap”, left flank of No. 4 Sap, which was overrun by several Turk’s in the

initial charge.

Wallace, Brace and Jeffries were shot and killed. Hayball, DOW, Makeham and Deed were wounded,

Deed having his thumb blown off; in the initial rush made by the Turks. Trooper Sanderson killed two

Turks who jumped into the sap with his bayonet, and he held the sap alone for almost three hours

before the Turkish attack had been suppressed. Tpr Sanderson was later mentioned in dispatches for

gallantry during the Turkish attack.

Tpr Gordon Deed was taken down to the N Z Field Ambulance at Anzac Cove and evacuated off Gallipoli

aboard the HM HS “Sicilia” 1/7/15, which sailed for Egypt. His thumb was not amputated as reported

but the wound took until early September to heal.

Major T. H. Redford has left two accounts of the fighting; his diary entry is related further on in this record

of the Turkish charge. He wrote: “Heavy rifle fire during the evening (29th), about midnight the Turks

attacked our positions in force, creeping to within a few yards of the trenches. The left flank held by a

Squadron of the 9th and ‘B’ and ‘C’ Sqdn’s of the 8th bore the brunt of the attack. We had splendid men

in Tpr’s T. A. Wallace and G. A. Jeffries killed in the forward T Sap and Tprs Brace, Hayball and

Makeham were severely wounded and Deed had his thumb blown off. There were a couple of minor

casualties. Two of ‘C’ Sqdn were killed and two or three wounded. Our men, especially ‘B’ Sqdn

behaved splendidly. They held the forward saps where others failed. Tpr Sanderson, who was beside

Wallace when he was killed, held the left flank of our No. 4 sap although Turks had got in on his left

and fired on him. They probably accounted for poor Wallace. Sanderson shot two Turks and prevented

others from coming on. The official estimate of the enemy killed and captured is 300. The casualties of

the 9th were slight.”

Saddler Sergeant Harry Williams from Mansfield recorded the following of Tpr Sanderson in a letter sent

home on the 29th August and printed in the Mansfield Courier, 9th October 1915: “One of the 8th, little

Bert Sanderson, from Violet Town, has been recommended for the D.C.M., having bayoneted three

Turks and shot two more. He is only a little fellow, too. His mother will be proud of him; there are two

more of them at the front; Charlie is in the 4th and Willie in the Veterinary Corps.”

Tpr Wilson: “Attack on Walker’s Ridge last night by Turks. Several Turks killed and wounded, about 250.

Tom Wallace and Jeffreys killed.”

Tpr Carl Holmberg, “C” Troop, “B” Sqdn: “The Turks attacked the 8th and 9th Reg in the morning, but we

cut them down as fast as they came. We killed over 300, and we only had seven killed, but among were

two of my best mates. T. G. Wallace and G. A. Jefferies.”

Tpr James Dunn No. 283, “B” Sqdn, also makes note of the attack in a letter home from hospital at

Mudros, published in the Ballarat Courier: “I had a narrow escape from being bayoneted by a big Turk

in one of the attacks, just managing to strike the end of his bayonet with mine in time. The butt end of

my rifle caught him a clout on the jaw and knocked him down, and my mate stuck his bayonet through

him. Sometimes we have to put our feet on the dead to pull the bayonet out. It makes your blood run

cold at times.”

Tpr Allan McColl, “C” Troop, “B” Sqdn has left an account of the Turkish attack in a letter sent home on

the 11th July, which was printed in the Mansfield Courier: “The enemy gave us a fairly warm reception

on one occasion, but got more than they gave. The nearest trench from our firing line is 12 or 15 yards,

and the night they attacked us I was the first to of our lads to see them. I could only see one or two at

first and thought they were bomb throwers, and I reckoned out I would let them come a bit closer, but

after a while I noticed 40 or 50 more of them and I knew something was doing and I gave the contents

of my rifle to the nearest one to me, and you should have seen the mob springing up from all directions

and charge our trenches and the lads got busy and machine guns “coughing” also, and seven or eight

got right into our trenches, but did not live long after getting in, they came at us three times. The fun

commenced at 11.45 and finished at daylight, and they were a sorry lot. I bet they must have lost 500

killed and wounded; I do not know how many but I guess they won’t be ready to try their hand on us

for a while.”

His brother Samuel McColl, “A” Troop, “B” Sqdn also wrote of the attack in a letter to his brother Richard

back home at Mansfield on the 14th July. This letter was also printed in the Mansfield Courier and the

extract pertaining to the attack is as follows: “In my last letter I told you that we were in the trenches

again, and having a pretty hot time of it. Well, Dick, to finish up we had an attack. Only the 8th and 9th

were concerned in it and it was a great victory. The attack took place early in the morning, and after day

broke we could count about 300 of the enemy dead out in front of our trenches. There were bound to be

a few wounded. We also took a few prisoners. I think our casualties totalled about 25, seven of which

were killed and the rest wounded. I had the misfortune to lose and old cobber in the mill (Saw Mill in

the Mansfield area). His name was Sam Brace. He came from Yea. You will very likely know him. He

was a fine fellow as he goes but all is fair in love and war as the saying goes.”

L/Sgt Pickett “B” Troop, “B” Sqdn: “I had my first experience of a bayonet charge last night. About 11

o’clock the Turks rushed our trenches. “C” and half of “D” Troops were in the trenches and about 11

o’clock one of our chaps noticed a man crawling along. Our chap fired but missed. The Turk jumped up

and threw a bomb into the middle of T Sap. Immediately a few hundred Turks jumped out of their

trenches and rushed. Our machine guns mowed them down but they got into the T Sap on the left. We

got our bombs to work and bombed them out.

Another crowd of Turks followed later about 12 o’clock but they met a similar fate. Our saps had men

firing in them, also the main firing line.

Men were also lying behind the dirt thrown out of the trenches behind the firing line and we put in a

terrific fire. Each time the Turks rushed they always wavered when they saw our bayonets glistening in

the moonlight. (It was in the moonlight with a full moon.)

When they wavered we put a terrific fire into them and they fell in hundreds. In the sap on the right the

Turks were 3 deep and there were many in the tunnels wounded.

These tunnels go right down and the idea of them is to stop the Turks sapping underneath us and

blowing up our trenches.

When the day broke it told its tale. It is reckoned we got 300 dead Turks in space, which is about 4

acres and there are still more on our left, while on the extreme right there was a similar attack and the

Turks lost there heavily also.

We had 4 killed, 8 seriously wounded and 16 other casualties, which shows what marvellous shooting

we did in getting hundreds of Turks when we only lost 6 killed.

Corporals Wallace & Middleton, Tpr’s Brace and Jefferies were 4 who were killed in our Regt. The 8th

and 9th Regts. have been mentioned for the splendid way in which they repelled the attack.

Things are going a bit better with us now.” The next page of his diary is also missing, but the opening

entry on the next page reads: “…their artillery when the attack was on and over 100 shells burst in front

of my dug out and a piece of shell came in just as I vacated it once – a lucky shave. I am in charge of a

burial party for the men I mentioned so I’ll close for tonight.” This is undoubtedly a reference to the

Turkish bombardment at 9 o’clock on the night of the 29th before the attack.

In a letter written home in the last week of July, possibly either Monday 26th or Tuesday 27th, as most of the

men’s last letters before the Charge at the Nek seem to have been written on these days, probably to

catch the mail leaving Gallipoli on that week; he also gives details of the Turkish attack. Although he

dates the attack as 2nd July, all the other details are in accordance with his diary entries. The extracts

from this letter are as follows: “…and our Regt. successfully repulsed an attack by the Turks on the

position we hold. They attacked us about 11 o’clock on the 2nd July in the evening and after made two

more attacks but they were all successfully repelled. The first we knew of it one of the chaps noticed a

man crawling along the ground and he fired and missed. The Turk threw a bomb into the trench.

Immediately hundreds of Turks jumped up and rushed us. We opened fire and with machine guns etc.

there was a terrific fire. The Turks dropped in hundreds. It was just a hail of bullets and the cries of the

wounded made me feel rotten.

When they rushed they all cried out “Allah! Allah!” and when they found our fire too hot for them they

made back for their trenches but the German Officers would not let them in. Several prisoners we took

showed us revolver and bayonet wounds in their legs through this and we heard ourselves the wrangling

going on when they made back for their trenches.

They came again but in a very half-hearted manner so this was our chance. We put a terrific fire into

them and they dropped. We got great praise for it as we only lost 6 killed and for every one of our lads

killed there were at least 100 Turks. Yes, we were praised for it but what is it all?

Only licensed murder and is there any glory in that? I don’t think so, especially as the Turks treat our

wounded well. The other day they left water and food with our wounded. Do you ever see anything said

of this in the Melbourne papers? I guess not – only what some imaginable person thinks he saw done.

None of us bear the Turks any ill will, but here we are trying to kill one another. None of the Turkish

officers accompanied their men in the charge, they drove their men out like sheep to a slaughter, and

with one exception all stopped in the trenches. Poor devils! We are gradually wearing the Turks down

and getting the best of them, but it’s going to be a long job if we ever do get them on the run. They are

good fighters and contest every inch of ground.”

Sgt Colin Cameron, “D” Troop, “B” Sqdn: “About a battalion of Turks attacked B and C Squadrons 8th.

and Squadron 9th. Were repulsed with very heavy losses. Their casualties 250 killed 250.wounded.

8th. and 9th., 6 killed 18 wounded. I managed to get in firing line about ½ time and got several of the

enemy I think.”

Sig. A. Callow: “The attack was in full swing early this morning. Our boys fought like Bulldogs and the

cries of ‘Alla Alla’ from the Turks proved that we were giving them a hot time. It lasted until 4 a.m.

They shelled us with shrapnel at times. It was a wild exciting experience. At daylight everything was

quiet again and all between our trenches and the enemy’s was strewn with dead and wounded Turks.

The enemy’s loss was estimated at 500 killed & the same number wounded. 12 prisoners were taken.

Our losses were 6 killed and 15 wounded.”

Major McLaurin: “Heavy bombardment prior to midnight, determined attack by Turks on trenches about

12.15 a.m. which lasted until about 5 a.m. when they were repulsed with heavy slaughter, our rifle fire

was terrible & we had no casualties (“C” Squadron) from machine guns. Enemy’s estimated loss about

350 killed & wounded, brunt of attack was bourn by left of “B” (Sqdn) & whole of “C” Squadron,

When the Turks attacked Capt Hore, “C” Sqdn, had only thirty-eight men in the front saps and another

thirty-eight in the support trenches. At this time No. 2 Sap had a tunnel heading directly towards the

Turkish trenches, and when the Turks first appeared along side No. 2 Sap they threw bombs into the

opening, killing one trooper and wounding several others. This forced the men to withdraw, some back

into the tunnel, where a few engineers were working, trapping them until they were later relieved by

Major McLaurin’s party, and the others back out of the sap into the firing line, where the Turk advance

was held. The Turks then managed to get into No. 2 Sap, and some of the other forward saps, killing

and wounding several men and occupying them until being driven out by the Light Horsemen.

Capt Hore managed to enter one of the tunnels shooting one of the Turks in it.

On the centre and right of the narrow front the Turks attempted to get into the front trenches, but the

volume of fire from the men of the 8th LH was so great they were forced to fling themselves to the

ground and attempt to return fire over the parapets, until one by one they were killed or wounded.

With the absence of Lt Col White, Major Deeble assumed temporary command of the regiment, and

recorded the following of the attack in his diary; “At 12.15 the Turks attack the position held by the 8th

and 9th with a whole regiment. 12.30: Our fellows take up a vigorous defence. They meet them with

rifle fire, flares (100) and bombs (150).

Some bombs injure some of our fellows in the saps and about eight Turks enter… wounded or dead in a

minute. Not a single Turk reaches our fire trench, nor do we lose a sap for a second.

3.40: Machine gun fire indicate enemy had given up the enterprise. A number of wounded crawl out of

our trenches and a few prisoners are taken.

There are about 250 dead in front of our position and our casualties are 6 killed and 12 wounded. Glad

to have success as the Colonel is away. (500 killed on a front of about 200ft.)”

Many other officers and men of the 8th and 9th Regiments have left accounts of the Turkish attack, each

confirming or adding more information to the mornings action, and are recorded as follows.

SSM Norman Worrall No. 477, “A” Troop, “C” Sqdn, diary entry: “This is the red letter day for us. At

midnight on the 29th the Turks were heard jabbering in their trenches, and shortly after the cry “Allah,

Allah!” was heard. With that everyone got ready, and in a few seconds a surging mass of enemy was

seen making for our trench. The boys opened fire in deadly earnest. We manned the back of the trench

with men from supports and a double firing line was thus created. For four hours the fight raged. Our

men threw caution to the winds and leaning over the parapet maintained a rapid and well-directed fire.

The enemy succeeded in gaining entry into No. 2 and No. 3 Saps, but were all cut down before they got

any further. At daybreak the fight ended and we could see the result of the night’s carnage. Four

hundred Turks lay piled in Ghastly heaps in the neutral ground between the trenches, and, amongst

them, the wounded moaned and writhed in awful agony. Such of the wounded as could move were

invited to come in and give themselves up and many did so. Later in the day some medical officers

went out with the Red Cross Flag and brought in the remainder. I took one prisoner in No. 2 Sap; he

was an intelligent Armenian and gave us some most important information. He said that 1,200 Turks

attacked and they were picked Troops known as the Sultan’s Body Guards. That such an attack was

repulsed with only 100 rifles and no machine guns supporting us is a tribute to the deadly accuracy

of our rifle fire. Poor old Sweetland was killed early in the attack. He was shot through the head.”

LCpl Walter McConnan, “C” Sqdn, in a letter to his father wrote of the attack: “Our rifle-fire not only

checked them but piled them in heaps. Of course a good many got away but our bag was good. I

reckoned on a couple for my share. This was the most exciting time we had enjoyed till recently.”

Tpr Thomas Jones, “C” Sqdn noted in a letter home: “We had a scrap with them (you know what I mean)

on 30th june. A few of our chaps were knocked out, but you should have seen the ‘dead’uns’ outside our

trenches next morning. We bowled them over like rabbits. It was great fun.”

Sgt G. W. Fuzzard, “A” Sqdn, left an account of the attack; part of which reads: “The real alarm took

place when several of them were to be seen in the front of our trenches. The real danger then lie in their

attempts to put us out of our trenches by the use of bombs. At this time it was very suitable for the

moon was blotted out by a large black cloud. These small parties were checked but came on later in

strong numbers over a small front. It was then we opened fire on them in a volume, but by doing so

was the cause of attracting their big gun fire. This done no damage to us, they were evidently aiming

higher to avoid their own men.

When the enemy were close the use of flares and the aid of a searchlight from a Torpedo boat in the

cove exposed them to a hot fire from our men. A determined effort of them to reach our lines was kept

up till dawn.”

The reserve troops who came up found the fire steps in the front trench to crowded, unable to find a

place to fire from many jumped up onto the parados at the back of the trenches. L/Cpl E. Mack of “A”

Sqdn wrote. “Our men were the happiest men on the Peninsular during the attack because as soon as

they stopped the first rush they jumped out of the fire trench and sat up on the parapets and yelled and

cursed at the top of their voices, calling out to the Turks to come on, that they would soon finish them

etc, etc.”

Lt Carthew wrote: “On Wednesday night last at 12.15 a.m. I had just been relieved from the firing line

where my troop, or what is left of them, three killed and thirteen wounded and several sick up to date,

was on duty. I had not gone far when I could hear “Allah, Allah”, this cry went right along the Turk

trenches. Needless to say I did not wait for any more but got back to the firing line as quick as I could

get. The beggars were charging our trenches in the hundreds, some of them got into our saps they kept

coming at us until just on daylight when they had to retire. On about 50 yards of our front they left

between 250 and 300 dead, we mowed them down in heaps.

You may read an account in the papers of what was done by the 8th & 9th LH, but I can tell you the

attack was mainly repulsed by “C” Sqdn. Our losses were very slight, three of my Troop were killed

and some wounded. Sgt Sweetland and Trooper Oats who were killed had just been allotted to my

troop, they were in “D” Troop.”

Major T. H. Redford, “B” Sqdn, recorded in his diary a brief description of the Turkish attack: “After an

evening’s rifle fire, Turks charged us at midnight after crawling to within a few yards of the 8th Light

Horse positions. Held on strongly. Official estimate is of 300 Turks killed and captured. For next three

nights, we dragged in Turk bodies and collected their rifles; 80 bodies, 113 rifles.”

Lt Ted Henty, “A” Troop, “B” Sqdn, wrote in a letter to his father: “We had a really good stand up fight on

the night of the 29th which cost the Turks 260 killed and a large number wounded while our casualties

were very small.

It was much more satisfactory than the infernal pot-shooting through the loopholes though this is fair

sport now as we are only about 60 yards apart at the widest and in some places much less than that.

To drop so many in that narrow space is not bad is it and speaks rather well for the alertness of

everyone concerned as it was a night attack.”

Capt Day, “A” Sqdn: “The Turks made a great demonstration or attack. Have not yet heard which, on our

right about 9.00. This lasted about an hour and a half. At 12.15 a.m. they suddenly opened on Walker’s

Ridge with 2 French 75 p and another gun and began to attack in force. They entered several saps and

had to be bombed and bayoneted out. This lasted till almost daylight. Many were killed in the saps, and

between the trenches, they lie just like rabbits after a dose of prepared apples. Our loss was small, not

one by shells. Matters very quiet all day.”

On the right at “C” Sqdn’s positions, Major McLaurin led a small Party down No. 2 Sap, clearing the

Turks out of the two branch saps with bombs and bringing back some of the wounded troopers. During

the counter attack he shot three Turks with his revolver. McLaurin was mentioned in dispatches for his

initiative and courage during the attack.

After the first massed attack at 12.15 a.m., which appeared to come in three waves, had been beaten back

by the use of rifle and machine gun fire, bombs and bayonets, the fire died down after about 20

minutes.

At 2.30 a.m. the Turks launched another massed attack across no-mans land, but were again checked by

the massed fire from the Light Horsemen. By this time the clouds had cleared away and the moon had

come up, silhouetting the Turks against the sky line and they were further illuminated by the Kirwan

flares thrown out into no-mans land. The Turks continued to kept up the attack all night, with little

parties of between ten and twelve attempting to get into the 8th’s trenches.

According to the 9th LHR history the firing died down by 3.30 a.m. A little later on in the morning the

Turks tried the Australian trick of raising straw dummies over the trench parapets to draw fire, but these

were detected by the men in the forward trenches and only brought forth jeers and wry laughter.

Tpr James Sheehy No. 447 “C”Sqdn, in a report from the local paper in the Wimmera, is stated to have

killed three Turks who had crept into one of the trenches during the early hours of the morning. It is

difficult to ascertain if this report is accurate or credible, as Tpr Sheehy was wounded by shrapnel on

the afternoon of the 28th July, but he may well have been only slightly wounded and returned to duty.

The report states: “That morning Jim went looking for a missing friend and found his dead body in a

trench, just as the Turks found him. The Turks rushed Jim who smartly shot one, drove his bayonet

through another, and with a backward sweep of the rifle-butt smashed the skull of a third, accounting

for three in one act.”

Tpr Ronald Ross states that: “ ‘D’ Troop, “A” Sqdn was supporting and nearly all were put in the firing

line. “After the attack had been repelled he noted; “Our troop was put in the firing line from 9 o’clock

that morning till 9 o’clock next morning without any sleep; two nights without sleep.”

Out on the left of the front line, attacking from the northern end of the Nek, at 1.30 a.m. the Turks

Advanced between the dead end of No. 5 and Turks Point. They managed to get into the long shallow

Secret Sap, which was lightly held by 12 men of the 9th LHR, distributed at wide intervals, in groups of

three or four. Tpr Les Hopping No. 134, “A” Squadron 9th LHR, was killed and the others managed to

retreat back down the Secret Sap to the firing line and through the communications saps. From some of

the prisoners it was found that the Turks were completely unaware of the existence of the Secret Sap,

and it came as a complete surprise to them when they came across it. The Turks occupied more than

half the sap and one party took over No. 1 Sap and occupied the trench. From here about 50 Turks

continued on into the Australian positions on Walker’s Ridge.

Major C. Reynell quickly gathered up a party of men and rushed up a communication trench,

fighting his way into the front sap. At a distance of about three meters they engaged the Turks with

rifle fire and bombs and drove them back from the junction of the two trenches. Sgt R. Sullivan carried

on the attack with bombs driving the Turks back up and out of No.1 Sap until they were able to regain

the line. A party of the 9th reinforced the line up to No.2 Sap and fired at right angles across the front of

the secret sap at short range. At 1.45 a.m. the Secret Sap was clear of Turks and 45 men were sent into

it to hold it against further attack.

Sgt Cameron, of the 9th LH was leading his troop forward when he was ordered to reinforce the

machine gun post out at Turk’s Point, which was being threatened by about 40 Turks. He wrote: “The

firing at this point was very heavy, and I lost one man before we got to the position. Then we extended

along the ridge and in doing so lost two more men. It fairly rained a hail of bullets there and they even

succeeded in getting between our main trench and the posts, but these were soon accounted for.”

At about 2 a.m., half an hour after the secret sap had been retaken, some of the Turks who had been

lying out in the scrub between the sap and Walker’s Ridge, suddenly rose up and rushed the machine

Gun post at Turk’s Point. One of the troopers was bayoneted and the Turks attempted to seize one of

the machine guns. The sergeant in charge of the post managed to shot one of the Turks, who attempted

to grab the machine gun, with his rifle. Sgt Ashburner then turned the machine gun on the enemy and

the rest fled. At 2.10 a.m. half of “C” Sqdn were then positioned to defend Turks’ Point against further

attack.

At about the same time the Cossack post at Latrine Gully sent a message that they had captured a Turk.

Another Cossack post reported that they had enemy troops in their vicinity and needed reinforcements.

The Adjutant, Capt Wieck, who was the only officer at this stage not involved in any of the fighting

gathered up the clerks, cooks and batmen from Regimental Headquarters and led them out to reinforce

the Cossack posts and to guard against the Turks getting through to the 5 inch howitzer position and

onto Walker’s Ridge. These Turks were then dealt with by fire from the machine gun or parties from

the 9th’s RHQ and were not heard of again.

At about 2.30 a.m. the Turks made another concerted attack on the front line trenches but were beaten

back by the concentrated rifle fire of the 8th and 9th LHR. By this time the clouds had cleared and the

Turks were silhouetted on the skyline by the moonlight and use of flares thrown out. The men of the 9th

LHR in the Secret Sap also caught the Turks unawares with heavy fire.

Major Reynell summed up the attack: “On Wrdnesday morning at 12.30 the Turks made a real attack on

our trenches after they made two demonstrations’ but the attack was easily repulsed and they left from

ewo to three hundred dead in front of our trenches. About 15 prisoners were also captured who gave us

a lot of interesting information. One of them was an Armenian.”

Capt P. I. ‘Naish’ Callary, 9th LHR, later recorded: “The Turks got a bad time. Our fellows said it reminded

them of shooting rabbits running around. They were repulsed with severe losses as the morning showed

when one could have a look. Nothing but dead Turks all over the place. One gets use to the smell. How

callous one gets. Such sights one sees and being so common and frequent makes one frightfully hard.”

Tpr H. V. Flower No. 789, 9th LHR, 2nd Reinforcements KIA, Russell’s Top.

[Captain George Wieck, Adjutant, HQ 9th LHR, sketch map of Turkish attack, Russell’s Top.]

About the same time the Turks tried to out flank “A” Sqdn, 8th LHR, by moving around below the ridge on

The right. This group had retired from the first attack on Russell’s Top and attempted to advance down

through Monash Gully. They were observed from across on Pope’s Post and with the aid of machine

gun and rifle fire from there, they were caught in a cross fire from “A” Sqdn, and checked, most of

them being killed.

L/Cpl Ernest Mack No. 66, “A” Troop, “A” Sqdn, has left an account of this part of the action:

“They attacked by getting out of their trenches and trying to charge us with the bayonet. Our men sat

right up on the parapets of our trenches and when not firing were all the time calling out for the Turks

to come along and hooting and barracking them. In fact most of our chaps took the whole attack as a

real joke.

As soon as they stopped the first rush they jumped out of the fire trench and sat up on the parapets and

yelled out cursed at the top of their voices calling out to the Turks to come on they would finish them,

etc. etc.

A dozen Turks towards morning tried to creep round our flank but were at once observed, but instead of

firing our chaps let them come on and then started to chuck off at them and called them all manner of

names for coming so slowly, and it was not until a voice answered them and said, ‘We will soon finish

you Australian hopping Kangaroos’ that one of our chaps then said ‘We can’t stand that, so into them

boys’, which the boys did, with the result those Turks still lie there.”

In another letter to his sister Mary, Ernie Mack tried to portray a picture of the battle, he wrote: “You ought

to hear the roar of rifles during an attack it is something tremendous and you can hardly realise how

anything can live through the hail of bullets. As for machine guns it is something wonderful to hear

them when a few get going properly. I once saw about a dozen Turks come up onto a piece of ground

where the M.G.s could get them and before you could speak they were all killed or wounded.”

McGrath, Mack and Fuzzard have all described how as the fares glared out the Turks would rise up and

attempt to charge forward only to be cut down by the devastating fire from the Light Horsemen.

The Kirwan flares were simple pieces of hemp dipped in kerosene and thrown from the trench by hand.

One Turkish officer observing the attack described these flares as: “What appeared to be balls of fire

were thrown out by the “English” and these, it seemed lay burning in the rear of the attackers,

preventing both them from returning and others from reinforcing them.”

Towards dawn they were observed attempting to retreat to the safety of their own trenches, many seemed to

have lost all sense of direction, they would rise up quickly and scamper in any direction.

Those attempting to regain the safety of their trenches would make a sharp dash but rarely succeeded,

only getting a few feet before being cut down. [McGrath]

Lt K. A. McKenzie, 9th LHR, left an account of the attack in his diary, dated 29th June: “Back in

trenches. At 9 p.m. Turks opened heavy fire, which died down at about 12 midnight 8th & 9th lines.

Began with loud cries of Allah & Mahhomet & at same time they advanced between dead end of No.5

and Turks Point and over Secret Sap. No control or leadership. It was like potting rabbits. They

wandered aimlessly about and were surprised at secret sap. Bomb throwing, flares etc., lasted till

daybreak. It was slaughter pure & simple. Interpreters induced many wounded to come in. Opposite us

about ten yards off one was lying in the scrub waving a white flag (other reports state the Turk was

actually waving a crumpled newspaper). We told him to come in and two more followed. They seemed

terribly scared that we would shoot them but they were very glad to surrender. One Armenian could

speak excellent English and said that Enver Pasha had come from Constantinople to see them attack

and push us into the sea. He was serving under compulsion and the officers forced the Turks out of the

trenches, staying behind themselves. Poor devils one couldn’t help pitying them.

Collected a lot rifles, ammunition etc, also personal articles. They were lying thick along the trenches.

Many have been carried in and buried. Very poorly clothed especially in footwear. Some of their guns

played on us but were engaged by a destroyer.

Brigade casualties- 7 killed, (Hopping 9th) 21 wounded.

Turks, Estimated, 250 killed, 200 wounded, 12 captured.”

SSM N. R. Worrall No. 477, “A” Troop, “C” Sqdn in a letter to his father made note of the first Turkish

dead he had seen: “They seem to wear their private clothes in addition to their uniforms, were loaded up

with about 350 rounds of ammunition, and had their haversacks full of provisions, and have very good

rifles.”

Sgt G.W. Fuzzard, “D” Troop, “A” Sqdn also made mention of the Turks appearance: “The general

appearance of them, they were rather roughly clad, some in uniform of various sorts, others plain dress.

Equipment was different in pattern, mostly poor and worn, Ammunition in plenty. We gathered 100

rifles.”

L/Sgt W. McGrath of “B” Troop, “B” Sqdn recorded in his history of the 8th LHR that: “The scene was

awful and the whole attack a complete disaster for the enemy. No doubt many got back into their

trenches in safety, but at daybreak 255 corpses were counted in our trenches and on our parapets, while

the ground in between was covered with dead and wounded amounting to equally as many. Our own

casualties were 6 killed and 12 wounded.”

Tpr Hill: “Day off. A lot of them busy burying dead Turks and collecting their rifles, ammunition etc.

Thunder storm came over but not much rain.”

At dawn the attack was over and the firing ceased, and scarcely a shot was fired at Russell’s Top.

12 Turkish prisoners were taken and many wounded brought in by the use of ropes thrown out to them

and dragged back into the trench. Many of the dead Turks lying out in front of the parapets were

dragged in by the use of grappling irons. Over the next few nights some of the men sneaked out and

recovered some of the wounded and collected 130 rifles and around 8000 rounds of ammunition from

the dead Turks, according to Ernie Mack.

Major Deeble noted in his diary: “I take for use a revolver and cartridge belt from an officer killed and we

got maps of the Turk trenches.”

The 8th LHR had 6 killed, 2 died of wounds and between 12 to15 were wounded in action.

“B” Sqdn’s L/Cpl T. A. Wallace No. 305, shot and killed. Tpr G. A. Jeffries, No. 315, shot and killed. Tpr

S. B. Brace No. 280, shot and DOW. Tpr H. Hayball No. 288, WIA & DOW. Tpr J. D. Deed No. 284,

WIA. Tpr S. Makenham No. 712, (2nd Reinf’s), WIA. LCpl J. A. Anderson No. 235, “B” Sqdn,

evacuated to Hospital.

“D” Troops sergeant Barry Watts-Phillips No. 266, wrote of Tpr Sam Brace: “He was one of our best

soldiers. Well liked by officers and men and always did his duty, a man without fear.”

“C” Sqdn’s Cpl S. J. Middleton No. 421, Shot and killed. Tpr H. G. Oates No. 431, “A” Troop, shot and

killed by a sniper at Walker’s Ridge. Sgt E. K. Keys No. 399, gun shot wound to left thumb, taken

down to NZFA, evacuated aboard HMHS “Sicilia”. Tpr C. E. Madin No. 415, bomb wound to the

abdomen and foot, taken down to NZFA, evacuated aboard HMHS “Sicilia”.

Tpr Arthur Berry No. 346, transferred from NZFA and evacuated from Anzac Cove to HMHS “Sicilia”.

Tpr’s L. Y. Butler No. 337, WIA. C.W. Dowling No. 364, severe leg wound. RTA aboard “Ulysses”

3-9-1915. H. D. Dean No. 361, WIA.

Tpr A. H. Currington No. 353, “C” Sqdn, Mentioned in Dispatches for his Conspicuous Gallantry and

Devotion to Duty. “When the enemy first rushed the position, he gallantly rushed to the front and gave

great assistance in beating off the initial attack. He then went along the line and rendered the most

valuable aid in reorganising the whole position, taking ammunition along the whole line to every place

where it was required. His soldiery bearing and fine fighting spirit were most conspicuous.”

For the rest of the day scarcely a shot was fired at Russell’s Top and the men were able to freely move

about, were previously it would have been certain death to show ones self above the parapet. The rest of

the day was spent in burying the dead and repairing the trenches.

Sapper Chas Jamieson: “Generally quiet along the whole front.”

Lt Ted Henty wrote: “The sun gets mighty hot in these parts now and the trenches will be mighty

unpleasant after a few days of heat on those dead Turks. We have been dragging in as many as we can

reach with grappling irons and ropes but there are a lot left yet what can’t be reached, Luckily for us we

will soon be spelling again.”

Another thunder storm after dusk, and after the shattering defeat of the day, the unnerved Turks fearing an

attack, opened a volume of fire right along the positions above Monash Gully. [AWM photo ID No.

H03117, J. P. Campbell]

Tpr John J. Faulkner No 61, “A” Sqdn, from his report in Wimmera paper, October 1915, stated: “In one

big attack the Turks had between 500 and 600 killed and they were lying close to our trenches; so the

bodies lying close to our parapets were sprayed with paraffin and burnt, but others further out had to

stay where they were. The Turks asked us for an Armistice to bury the dead, but their request was

refused as the previous Armistice (on May 24th) had been violated. Instead of just burying their dead,

the Turks had sneakily brought up stores and shifted guns etc. during the lull in the fighting. Apart from

that one incident, as far as I can see, the Turks always fought fairly.”

Capt George Wieck 9th LHR later wrote in a letter to C. E. W. Bean: “Scarcely a shot was fired at Russell’s

Top during the whole of 30th June, and the men moved freely where previously it was death to venture.”

The Brigade Major Lt Col Jack Antill recorded in the 3rd LH Bgde. War Diary: “Men behaved excellently

in this there first serious fight and were very cool doing good work. Fire was received until the last.

Machine Guns did nothing, positions being unfavourably placed and we got no assistance whatever all

night from any of our own artillery. Regiments are depleted and hard worked.”

[Map of trenches Russell’s Top, J. M. Pickerd. Map of Turkish assault right of Russell’s Top, 9th LHR]

M.E.F. GHQ War Diary: Intelligence Summary: - Imbros – 30-6-15. Anzac reported the capture on June

30th of 14 prisoners of the 18th Regiment, one of who had since died.

Tpr Iver C. Hamilton No. 536, “C” Troop, “A”Sqdn, sent down to the Casualty Clearing Station at Anzac

Cove, where he was diagnosed with influenza, dental and enteric, ‘slight’. He was sent off Gallipoli on

the sweeper “Clacton” in the afternoon and evacuated to Malta on board HS “Sicilia”..

L/Cpl J. A. Anderson No. 235, “B” Sqdn, admitted to NZ FA, Anzac Cove with influenza, evacuated by the

“Clacton” to Hospital Ship “Sicilia”. Embarked for Alexandria, Egypt.

1-7-1915 (Thursday) – A Torpedo destroyer shelled the Turkish positions on the Nek early in the morning.

Three destroyers were assigned to shell Turkish positions from Gab Tepe to the old No. 3 Post each

night. One of these destroyers would turn its guns and searchlight on the Nek late at night and again at

dawn. These destroyers were usually the HMS “Chelmer”, the “Colne” and sometimes the

“Rattlesnake”.

This routine of nightly bombardment was to be kept up every night in preparation for the August offensive.

The front line was very much quieter during the day. The Turks fired the occasional shell onto Russell’s

Top, resulting in a few casualties. Dead Turks were pulled into the trenches with grappling irons and

removed for burial. Men snuck out of the trenches at night to bring in wounded and rifles.

Capt Day: “About 9.30 last night a fierce thunder storm passed over the position here. It was very dark

except when lit up by lightning flashes until the moon rose. The Turks opened up a heavy fusillade for a

time. Today has been quiet so far. It is still warm.”

L/Sgt Pickett: “The other day I sent a cable saying, “I was well till 27th June”. We have to put the date in

the cable as it takes a week or so to get to Australia from here.

In the attack the other night after the first charge a lot of the Turks made back for their trenches, but

they were sent out again at the point of the bayonet by the Turkish and German officers. Some of the

wounded prisoners showed us bayonet wounds in their legs.”

Sgt Colin Cameron: “D Troop in firing line. Fatigue parties burying Turkish dead. Smell pretty bad.

A Squadn haudled Turks in with grappling irons.”

Tpr Douglas Hill: “Off Duty. Still burying dead Turks and collecting rifles by night.”

Tpr Carl Holmberg: “I was on No.2 gun all day but had no shooting as things were quiet. The 8th Reg were

busy burning all the dead Turks.”

Tpr Ronald Ross: “Back in the trenches again resting. Some of us were burying dead Turks in the evening,

myself included, was one of the party.”

Sig. Callow: “Very much quieter today; occasional shells. Grappling irons were being used for pulling in

dead Turks to bury. Torpedo destroyer shelled Turkish trenches early this morning. Sig C. W. Guyatt

was sent away sick.”

Sgt Cameron, 9th LHR, wrote: “I went around the trenches in the morning, and the sight that met one’s

gaze was horrible. Dead Turks and some not quite dead were lying about just like rabbits after a night’s

poison being laid. We rescued the wounded by throwing out ropes to which they fastened themselves

and were drawn in, the dead near the trenches were dragged in and buried.”

The men of the 9th dragged in 30 Turkish dead during the day with grappling irons, after dark Troopers

Pennycuick and Dawkins crept out in front of the trenches and brought in more wounded and dead

Turks, along with rifles and ammunition.

Sapper Chas Jamieson: “Found unexploded lyddite shell between my dug-out and R. Smith’s (Sapper Roy

S. Smith No. 601.) and Cec Thompson’s (Sapper Cecil P. Thompson No. 603.). Rather lucky for us that

it did not explode.”

Tpr Wilson: “Dick Cottingham shot through chest and spine as we were sniping. Hear he is in a bad way.

“St.Vincent.” (Tpr Richard John Cottingham No. 13/652, Auckland Mounted Rifles, N.Z.E.F.)

Sgt E. K. Keys No. 399, “C” Sqdn, wounded by shrapnel, evacuated to Hospital. (Second time WIA on

Gallipoli.)

Sig C. W. Guyatt No. 12, HQ, sent sick to Hospital.

Tpr G. W. Zirkler No. 113, “A” Sqdn, evacuated from Gallipoli with Pneumonia to St Georges Hospital

Malta.

Tpr H. D. Dean No. 361, “C” Sqdn admitted to 26th Cas Clearing Stat, Anzac Cove with rheumatic fever

and enteric.

(Redge Mathers 9th LHR was evacuated from Gallipoli to Lemnos. He went on to Hospital in Malta and

then on to England. He wrote in a letter to his sister Effie: “I feel most awfully grateful to be alive and

cannot now tell how I was never hit.” His entries over the past few months have added a great deal to

the activities of the 3rd LH Brigade’s roll on Gallipoli and filled in a lot of the gaps in what had taken

place on Walker’s Ridge and Russell’s Top.)

3rd L.H. Bde War Diary:

Buried some 30 Turks: Effective strength = 1211.

Party of 10th L.H. sent at night to try and capture “Snipers Ridge” from whence considerable successful sniping has been carried out last 2 months by Turks – onto about 1400 yards N.E. of left of Walker’s Junction and some distance from Beach in front of No. 2 s/s. Party unsuccessful encountering heavy fire. Lieut Hamlin in charge – He retired with one man (Corporal H. R. Kingdom 429) missing.

Much useful information from one of our captured prisoners. Attack 29.30 on us was carried out by 18th Regt (3 Battalion): Enver Bey present, Esard Pasha on 7 Army Div. Turks mentally fear our bombs and accurate rifle fire: Food good: Ammunition plentiful: There were 3 maxims immediately in front of us – one placed out of action.

Battalion commanded by Turkish officers who drove their men forward. 2nd Battalion attacked supported by 3rd: suffered heavy losses & retired. Turks would like to come in if they could. 2 white star lights signal for general attack. German officers in charge of guns. We have been burying Turks all day. Good progress all along the line last week. Impossible to get any information re our casualties which have left. Those sick especially appear to drift back in most casual way from Lemnos.

9th L.H. relieved by Auckland in trenches tomorrow.

Capt Aubrey Herbert, an English officer who was an interpreter on Gen Godley’s staff; who spoke fluent Turkish has left an account of the scene in the trenches on Russel’s Top after the attack in his book, “Mons, Anzac & Kut: “, with the entry for: “July 1st, 1915. Anzac. I examined the prisoners, amongst them a tall Armenian lawyer, who talked some English. I asked him how he had surrendered. He said: " I saw two gentlemen with their looking glasses, and came over to them." By this he meant two officers with periscopes. He said that the psychology of the Turks is a curious thing. They do not fear death, yet are not brave. . . .No water came in yesterday. The storm wrecked the barges and the beach is covered with lighters. We got brackish water from the hill. I could not get to Jack for work.At lunch I heard there were wounded crying on Walker's Ridge, and went up there with Zachariades. We found a first rate Australian, Major Reynell (9th LHR). We went through the trenches,dripping with sweat; it was a boiling day, and my head reeled from inoculation. We had to crawl through a secret sap over a number of dead Turks, some of whom were in a ghastly condition, headless and covered with flies. Then out from the darkness into another sap, with a dead Turk to walk over. The Turkish trenches were 30 yards off, and the dead lay between the two lines. When I called I was answered at once by a Turk, He said he could not move. I gave him a drink, and Reynell and I carried him in, stumbling over the dead among whom he lay. I went back for my water-bottle, but the Turks began shooting as a warning, and I had to go back into the trench. An awful time getting the Turk through the very narrow trench. I got one other, unwounded, shaming dead. We threw a rope, and in he came. The taking of the second Turk was a curious episode that perhaps deserves a little more description than is given by the diary. The process of catching Turks fascinated the Australians, and amongst them an R.A.M.C. doctor who came round on that occasion. This officer prided himself upon neatness and a smart appearance, when the dust and heat of the Dardanelles had turned every one else into scallywags. After he had attended to the first wounded man, he pointed out the second Turk lying between our trenches and the Turks' and only a few yards from either. "You go out again, sir," said the Australians; "it's as good as a show." I, however, took another view. I called out to the Turk: "Do you want any water?" "By God," he whispered back, "I do, but I am afraid of my people." We then threw him a rope and pulled him in. He told us that the night before he had lost direction in the attack. Fire seemed to be coming every way, and it had seemed to him the best plan to fall and lie still amongst his dead comrades. The doctor gave him some water, with which he rinsed his mouth, and I left him under the charge of the R.A.M.C. doctor. This is what happened subsequently. They had to crawl back through the secret sap, from which the bodies of the dead Turks had by that time been removed and left at the entrance. The Turk was blindfolded, but he saw his dead comrades, over whose bodies he had to step, he leapt to the conclusion that it was our habit to bring our prisoners to one place and there to kill them. He gave one panic-stricken yell; he threw his arms round the neck of the well-dressed officer; they fell and rolled upon the corpses together, the Turk in convulsions of fear clinging to the neck of the doctor, pressing his face to the faces of the dead till he was covered with blood and dust and the ghastly remains of death, while the soldiers stood round saying to the Turk: "Now, don't you carry on so.”

That now covers all I have of this episode of the history of the Gallipoli campa

[Davidwhitman]

Dear Jeff

What can I say, I am speechless!

Thanks for the detailed info and your enthusiastic contribution to this thread. I hope you publish your work one day. It's an enthralling story.

David