6th Bn Royal dublin Fusiliers- Gallipoli

[Ravrick]

Hi,

Having dinner at friends last night and the discussion got around to military service, I was shown a group of medals (1914/15 trio and memorial plaque, proudly framed and displayed on the wall) to his great uncle - 11898 Pte John Morrissey, 6th Bn RDF, KIA 21st august 1915 at gallipoli. He only has the usual CWGC info etc. Does anybody have access to the war diary for the 6th Bn, basically I am trying to find out for him - unit entry into theatre date, what happened on the 21st - big attack, bombardment, accident and area they were operating in. Any info would be appreicated, thanks in advance,

Rick

[michaeldr]

info from Ray Westlake's 'British Regiments at Gallipoli' (Leo Cooper, 1996, ISBN 0 85052 511 X)

Part of 30th Brigade, 10th (Irish) Division, sailed July 1915 on Alaunia, arrived Mudros 24th then Mitylene 25th July.

HQ, plus C and D Companies sailed on Fauvette, A and B Companies on Sania, on 6th August, landing at 'C' Beach, Suvla on 7th August 1915

Attached first to 31st Brigade on water & ammunition fatigues, then attached to 33rd Brigade on 9th Aug. and moved forward to positions near Chocolate Hill in support of Brigade attack (heavy casualties) Relieved 12th Aug. and to rest camp 'A' Beach

Rejoined 30th Brigade on Kietch Tepe Sirt 13th Aug. Took part in attack along the ridge on 15th and suffered further casualties. Took over positions at Spion Kop on 16th. More casualties during counter attacks. First reinforcements arrived – 3 officers and 157 other ranks. Relieved and to 'A' Beach on 17th then rest camp near Hill 145 on 18th Aug. To Lala Baba on 20th

"Moved forward in reserve for attack on Hetman Chair – Kazlar Chair line on 21st August 1915. Casualties - 41 other ranks. "

Your friends may wish to contact the Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association for further help

see http://www.greatwar.ie/assoc.html

regards

Michael

[corisande]

The 6th and 7th Dublins had landed together, so you can follow in both battalions exploits. There are a number of books on the subject, and by going through them you will be able to answer all your questions.

Field of Bones: An Irish Division in Gallipoli, by Philip Orr

The Pals at Suvla Bay, by Henry Hanna - its about a company of 7th Battalion, and has a graphic account of their advance across an open plain that day you ask about

"Ireland's Forgotten 10th" Capt. Jeremy Stanley

"The Tenth Division in Gallipoli" Major Bryan Cooper

and a number of other books

Assigned to 30th Brigade in the 10th (Irish) Division at the Curragh. The 30th Brigade also contained the 7th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers and the 6th and 7th Battalions of the Royal Munster Fusiliers. The 30th Brigade moved to Dublin in February 1915 and then embarked for England in May 1915 and onto the Basingstoke area where they underwent training for the next 3 months. During that time, The Division was inspected by King George V on 28 May at Hackwood Park and by Field Marshal, Lord Kitchener on 1 June.

6 and 7th Battalions RDF sailed from Avonmouth on the Alaunia. They embarked, with the 7th Battalion on the 'Alaunia' at Devonport at about 7am on Saturday July 10th (though it had been rumoured they would be sailing from Liverpool a train stop in Exeter finally quashied this). They sailed via Gibraltar (brief stop on Wed 14 July) arrived in Valletta (Malta) on Sat 17th July. Next stop was Alexandria on Tues 20th July. Arrived in Mudros Bay on island of Lemnos on Saturday 24th July. They believed this would be the final destination but following day set sail again for Mitylene where they were joined a week later by 31st Infantry Brigade. A magnificent concert party was held on board on Sun 1 August by the 6th & 7th Battalions entertaining about 300 sailors from a French battleship before an inspection the following day by General Sir Ian Hamilton and Staff. On 6th August the two Battalions were packed onto 4 Fleet sweepers and set sail, arriving at 5am the following morning in Suvla Bay.

They landed on 7 August and, for the remainder of that day and the next, the men undertook fatigues carrying water and ammunition. The Battalion moved forward to positions near Chocolate Hill ready to support an attack by other battalions in the Brigade. Few details of the day still exist but it appears that the Battalion was not called upon to go into action. Nearly 40 soldiers were killed, however; most probably by enemy shellfire.

Other parts of the Division had been engaged with the enemy prior to the 7th Battalion arriving and had suffered severe losses, which was also to befall the 7th Battalion. Tenth Division lost 75% of its original strength killed or wounded. 3,000 men were killed or died from wounds, 25% of the Division's strength.

[corisande]

Having got to that date in 6th RDF War Diary, I find it does not say a lot in any detail, which reflects their War Diary at this time, and following their losses on landing.

Battalion move up as Brigade reserve to occupy line of trenches running roughly 91-D-8 to 104-T-7, vacated by the 11trh Division when they advanced. Left Lala Baba at 16.30. Casualties during the advance, officers nil, other ranks 41.

[trishedst]

John Morrissey Regiment: Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 6th Batt Regiment Number: 11898 Rank: Private Death Date: 21 Aug 1915 Death Place; Gallipoli

Birth Place:

Dublin, Ireland

Name: John Morrissey Birth Place: Dublin Death Date: 8 Dec 1915 Death Location: Balkans Enlistment Location: Dublin Rank: Private Regiment: Royal Dublin Fusiliers Battalion: 6th Battalion Number: 11967 Type of Casualty: Killed in action Theatre of War: Balkan Theatre

My Grand Uncle John Morrissey joined the militia in 1908 reg. no. 7106 5Bn RDF he was posted 21/1/08 and discharged on the 4/4/08 unlikely to become and efficient soldier. His first cousin with the same name John Morrissey joined the militia in 1901 Reg. no. 3290 3rd Bn RDF birht parish St. James RC after which he joined the regular army RIR reg. no. 6796 birth parish St. Andrews CoI soon after joining John was court marshaled for willfully telling an untruth on is attestation papers, he was given 85 days R.H.L. soon after he was given another 14 days R.H.L. for drunkeness after which he was discharged from the army for misconduct. Both Johns volunteered at the beginning of WW1 as you can see above both were killed in action no service records can be found for either man my problem is how do I match their militia numbers to their army records to find out which John is which? any help would be much appreciated.

Regards

Ed.

[corisande]

Ed

Interesting question you pose. I had a go, but cannot answer it.

Apart from saying one did in Gallipoli and the other in Salonika, there appears to be nothing on CWGC nor SDGW to add anything about their families.

The war diaries are unlikely to help. My feeling is that only family info will help, and that you need to contact both branches of the family to see if anyone knows which man dies in Salonika

[Don]

Hi Ed,

I have a newspaper Casualty list stating Pte J Morrissey 6th Batt 11967 listed as wounded in The Dardanelles.12 September 1915

Another list states him missing Pte J Morrissey 11967,6th Batt reported missing 5 Feb1916

Regards

Gerry

[trishedst]

Hi Gerry,

CWGC has 11967 Pte John Morrissey KIA 8 Dec 1915 do either if the lists give an address for him?

Thanks for the info

Regards

Ed

[Don]

Hi Ed, unfortunately not ,just his name and number I can post them to you if you like

Gerry

[trishedst]

Thanks Gerry, That would be great

Regards

ED