Kiretch Tepe Sirt trench name map?

[Gerryor]

Hello,

 

I've recently joined the forum, having seen what a wealth of knowledge & information there is here. My great uncle, Captain Edward Hain, was killed at Gallipoli, having gone out late in the campaign with the 1st Devon Yeomanry in October 1915 aboard the Olympic. I've found various diary entries which mention his death and one which specifically says he was buried at Oxford Circus on November 11th 1915. I'm keen to find maps which might show the names of the trenches so that I can pinpoint where he was posted and perhaps where he was actually killed. His final resting place is now in Hill 10 cemetery and I'm planning a visit there in May this year. The names Oxford Street and Cannon Street also seem to appear in text relating to the 1st Devon Yeomanry, but so far all I can know with any certainty is that these trenches were in the areas between Jephson's Post and Karakol Dagh. Any help, advice or more detailed information would be gratefully received!

 

Many thanks in anticipation.

[emrezmen]

Hello,

 

A couple of sketches from war diary of 9th Army Corps HQ (Oct-Nov period):

 

 

 

 

Cannon St (approx): 40°20'07.79"K  26°15'45.01"D

Oxford St (approx): 40°19'57.01"K  26°15'45.93"D

 

Other members who are more knowledgeable about British side will definitely provide a detailed information about these two works.

 

Cheers.

Edited 1 April , 2019 by emrezmen
Additions

[michaeldr]

Gerry, welcome to the GWF

 

Cannon Street ran along the northern slope [on the Gulf of Soros side of the ridge] and provided access to the front which was relatively sheltered from Ottoman fire

Oxford Street served a similar purpose (access) but it was on the southern slope and therefore more open enemy fire.

Oxford Circus, where your relative was first buried, was near Karakol Gap and can be seen on the second (enlarged crop) below

The expression “trenches” hardly applies in this sector where the ground is rocky and very difficult to dig into. Cannon Street & Oxford Street were more in the nature of tracks or path-ways. Where protection was needed, then 'sangars' were built from the plentiful supply of stone. You will see on the maps that the tracks are shown with a double pecked line, whereas where it had been possible to make trenches (eg The Elephant) these are shown by a solid line.

 

 

 

[michaeldr]

You may also find some useful maps etc in this old thread here

 

[Gerryor]

Thank you gentlemen for your informative responses - VERY much appreciated! I feel that I can now visit a specific area of the battlefield where my great uncle would have been present. I have a copy of a letter from him written a month before he was killed, in which he eloquently describes the disembarkation at Suvla Bay and the setting up of camp a couple of miles up from the beach. He talks about having "a roofless dugout... sunk into the side of the hill and looking out over the sea", which now makes perfect sense to me from your maps - they must have been on the north side of the ridge looking over the Gulf of Saros.

 

He was extremely unlucky, being killed on the morning that his squadron were being relieved. A shell landed on his dugout, described in the following diary entry from Leonard Frederick Augustus Baker (I think...):

 

"Unfortunately the regiment did not come out unscathed this time. Two or three wounded and three killed – one of the latter, alas, my very good pal, Teddy Hain. It was horrible bad luck his going out the way he did. At ten thirty am he was sitting in his dug-out talking to an officer of the Border Regt. Which was relieving us that evening, and the Turk gun nicknamed ‘Douglas’ started shelling our lines. The very first shell fell bang into Teddy’s dug-out and blew the back of his head clean off. The Border officer only got a few wounds in one arm. Teddy’s servant who was there, got a hole in his chest – not serious. And the Sergeant Major who was talking to Teddy never even got a scratch. Such are the dreadful whims of warfare."

 

Dreadful whims of warfare indeed.

[michaeldr]

1 hour ago, Gerryor said:

I feel that I can now visit a specific area of the battlefield where my great uncle would have been present.

 

Glad to have helped Gerry

I feel sure that you will enjoy your visit

[I expect to be at Hill 10 myself on 6th May]

[Gerryor]

Am flying out late on 6th May, so driving down to the peninsula on May 7th!

 

G

[michaeldr]

 Then we may run into one another

In any event, I hope that you have a safe journey and a great time

 

Michael

 

[Gerryor]

Thanks Michael, much appreciated!

 

G

[The Plummed Goose]

Then we may run into one another ... you'll be having dinner together ... :)

 

[michaeldr]

Great to hear from you Eric

Looking forward to seeing you in May

and to the dinners of course