Last troops from Cape Helles

[Chris_Baker]

Can anyone please

1. confirm that HMS Mars was among the last ships to evacuate troops from Cape Helles, and

2. confirm which units, especially of artillery, were represented among those evacuated?

Thanks in advance

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Chris

I am not able to give you any confirmation on HMS Mars other than she took part in the evacualtion during Jan 1916, but if you need support info on the ship inc pics see

www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/hms_mars.htm

[michaeldr]

Chris,

HMS Mars

For a ref to this ship at the evacuation see 'Defeat at Gallipoli' by Nigel Steel and Peter Hart; chapter 11 'Stealing Away' page 411.

There are quotes there from Coxswain P. Powell, who was ic a lighter embarking men from No.2 pier 'W' Beach, who made several journeys to waiting transports including the old battleship HMS Mars.

"I was ordered to the HMS Mars but it was along trip, uncomfortable for us and certainly so for the soldiers, who had marched down five miles through trenches. We had great difficulty in getting alongside, and also remaining on. It was hard work for the troops to climb the ladders with 100lb packs and rifles, for the sea was very nasty."

Hope this helps

Michael D.R.

[michaeldr]

Chris,

re: Which units?

In 'Gallipoli 1915' Philip Haythornthwaite describes the line L to R as

13th Div., 29th Div., 52nd Div. and R.N.D.

Steel and Hart mention 17,000 remaining by am 8th Jan and that the RND + 52nd Div left via 'V' Beach.

This suggests that those heading for the 'Mars' were either 13th or 29th Div.

Sorry, so far no details re gunners

Regards

Michael D.R.

[michaeldr]

Hi Chris

Are we making any progress on this one?

The very last act must have been the blowing-up of the ammo dumps, which it is said brought down Turkish fire on empty trenches and beaches. This took place at 0345 hrs (09 Jan 16).

Per Westlake there are 3 likely contenders for who was still around at that last minute

1) 1st Batt.,The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Left 'W' beach at 0400 hrs on 9th on board the destroyer "Staunch"

2) 1st Batt., The Border Regiment

Who were covering the evac at 'W'

When the ammo went up 5 of their men were injured by falling debris

They left from No.2 pier on "Staunch"

3) 2/2 (City of London) Batt. (Royal Fusiliers) The London Regiment

Two parties were among the last British troops to leave Gallipoli

one att. to R.E. for work on 'W' Beach

another employed in connecting up mines

2nd Lt. Strange was one of the last to leave on the destroyer "Grasshopper"

Note: Westlake does not cover RND or RA

and I have ignored Princess Louise's (A. & S. H.) where "left for Mudros 10 PM (9th)" must be a misprint.

Guns:

At the end of Dec 1915 there were 150 guns left

by the 7th Jan that was down to 63

at the end only 15 were left, wrecked and abandoned

What is not yet clear to me is whether or not these figs include the French 75s which were left with the RND when the last French pulled out on 1st/2nd Jan. The French 75s were very highly thought of by everyone and therefore I would guess that they were amongst the saved and not the abandoned

Best Regards

Michael D.R.