9th lancs fusiliers war diary suvla bay landings

[wypers view]

hi would anyone have any war diary info on the 9th battalion lfs suvla bay landings in particular 21/08/1915. as the person I am researching pvte walstam simpson machine gunner 3742 was shot in the head on that date according to his medical report .also could any one please tell me what class2 14/05/1919 means ? which is written on his medals card under the remarks column.his date of entry into the Balkans was 11/02/1915 again according to his medals card .thanks

[Guest]

What little remains of the diary has been digitised and is available on the National Archives website for £3.36. The ref is WO 95/4299 and it is part of the 11th Div War Diaries. The War Diary for the 9th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers from August to Dec 1915 is missing however there is a typewritten account written in a rather old fashioned style for August - copied from the (Regimental) XX Journal and a very short handwritten account for Sep-Dec 1915 compiled from Officers' notes some time after the event. Both are contained in the digitised file above.

The 21st August was the single largest attack made by the British throughout the whole Gallipoli campaign. The 9th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers was part of 34th Inf Bde which also kept a War diary

Account of the 9th Bn Lancashire Fus from XX Journal 1915. Attack delivered at 3 pm on Turkish trenches 450 yds away. 1 Pltn ordered to advance during bombardment to seize favourable ground as near as possible to Turk trenches in front of Orchard; this to be done to assist 5/39th. Patrol sent out on Riight to keep touch with Gurkhas X & Z Coys attacked in extended order followed by Y & W Coys 150 yards behind. advanced under heavy fire, 6 officers out of 7 being hit but by 3:20 pm trenches had been taken, all Turks in them Killed or Wounded and were being consolidated with Turks' own tools. About 3:50 pm a party of 7/38th reached trenches. CO having been wounded early on & being unable to carry on had to retire to dressing station; he had informed 6/15th of general situation and handed over command to Capt Lowth (afterwards missing in action). Casualties on 21st Officers only: 2 killed, 2 missing, 3 wounded. Of 29 Officers who embarked for DARDANELLES Capt MILNES (ex Volrs) Lt BARRY (MGO) 2nd Lt HESLING & Lt & QM FLINT were alone unhurt by Aug 22nd. Two Capts, one Lt and two 2nd Lts had not been present on Aug 7th, of these Capt MILNES and 2 Lt HESLING were left unhurt.

34th Inf Bde War Diary , 21st Aug 1915. On morning of 21st The Bde was situated as follows - In front line trenches from 105 V 8 - K of KAZLARCHAIR -5th Bn DORSET Regt (on Left) - 9th Bn LANCS FUS (on Right). In support trenches near 91 F 3/6 - 6th Bn EAST YORKS. In reserve Trenches near 91 C 11th Bn MANCHESTER Regt. Bde HQ in a dug out just North of road junction 91 F 3. Orders were issued for an attack on ISMAIL OGLU TEPE. Bde Operation Orders attached. A simultaneous assault should have been made at 15:00 but at the last minute the hour for assault of 32nd Bde was put off 5 mins and the Timings? of the Indian Bde on our right were changed - this was unfortunate. At 15:00 the 5th Bn DORSETS and 9th Bn LANCS FUS assaulted and reached their objective - the trench running S from HETMAN CHAIR - without much difficulty or opposition. This was the task allocated to the Bde in the 1st phase. They were at once supported by the 6th Bn EAST YORKS and the 11th Bn MANCHESTER Regt took their place in the support trenches with 3 Coys, the 4th Coy advancing to the original front line trench. Reports very soon began to come in from the advanced troops saying they were being very hotly engaged by Turks and that both flanks were threatened. It was recognised that the right flank was exposed as there was a gap between our right and the Indian Bde, but the left flank ought to have been secure. It subsequently transpired that the 32nd Bde had moved to the North... 16:15. One COy of the 11th Bn MANCHESTER Regt were ordered to reinforce the advanced troops who ere still hotly engaged in the Turkish Trench. The remainder of the Regt were brought up into the original front line trenches. During the 2nd phase of the battle the role of the Bde was to protect the right flank of the troops attacking ISMAIL OGLU TEPE but as this attack did not progress the troops of the 34th Bde remained in the position they had captured... at 19:20 the Bde was ordered to gain ground to its front and keep in touch with the INDIAN Bde which had its right at SUSAK KUYU - Any question of advance did not seem possible at the time. The only troops in hand at the time being 3 Coys of the 11th Bn MANCHESTER Regt, one of which was being employed taking ammunition and tools to the troops holding the captured trench who were still hotly engaged. Two companies of 11th Bn MANCHESTER Regt were however ordered to forma line of entrenched posts to connect with the INDIAN Bde.

34th Inf Bde War Diary , 22nd Aug 1915.Early in the morning of 22nd information was received that the troops holding Turkish Trenches were hard pressed and at the same time that the posts of the 11th Bn MANCHESTER Regt had been driven in. - 06:25 The OC 11th Bn MANCHESTER Regt was ordered to reinforce one Coy and collect the remainder of his Regt. The GOC 30th Bde was also informed that the Right flank was exposed - shortly after this information was received from the 9th Bn LANCS FUS that the troops on their right had retired and the remainder of the 11th Bn MANCHESTER regt were ordered up to reinforce but the officers Commanding had not been able to collect his scattered troops. ..AT about 0700 telephonic communication was broken and it was reported from our front line trench that the enemy could be seen in occupation of the trench, 30th Bde reported that units had already reported on his trench. Remainder of the day was spent in reorganising units and at night the Bde retired into Corps Reserve on beach near LALA BABA being relived by 30th Bde.

MG

[wypers view]

that's great will check it out many thanks for your information ,and quick reply ,

[wypers view]

also could any one please tell me what class2 14/05/1919 means ? which is written on his medals card under the remarks column.his date of entry into the Balkans was 11/02/1915 again according to his medals card .thanks

[Guest]

The entry date is certainly wrong. The battalion, Bde and Div did not arrive in theatre until July.

[wypers view]

yes you are quite correct [sorry my mistake ] his entry into the Balkans is 11/07/1915