X Beach

[Pat Atkins]

So it's of the same official provenance as "Lancashire Landing"? Very interesting - thanks, Michael.

 

Pat

[Bryn]

Thanks very much Bill (great photos), Pat and Michael.

Edited 6 June , 2020 by Bryn

[Hawkeye28]

 87th Infantry Brigade with the 1st Battalion of the Border regiment landed at X Beach. After an unopposed landing by the 86th Brigade a surprising number of the Borderers in the 87th brigade were killed later.  Killed - 2 officers 25 NCOs & other rank

[michaeldr]

7 hours ago, Hawkeye28 said:

 87th Infantry Brigade with the 1st Battalion of the Border regiment landed at X Beach. After an unopposed landing by the 86th Brigade a surprising number of the Borderers in the 87th brigade were killed later.  Killed - 2 officers 25 NCOs & other rank

At 12;30 pm on the 25^th April, heavy firing (some of it reaching the top of the cliff) indicated that the Royal Fusiliers [as the Borderer's WD (WO 95/4311) puts it] “were being severely handled by superior numbers”. The RF were being driven back by the enemy who was in close contact with them and reached a point only 400 yds from the cliff. The Borderer's were therefore ordered to charge forward. From the WD: “This task was most gallantly performed in the face of a very heavy fire.” The WD mentions that as well as the 2 officers & 25 men killed, a further 3 officers and 78 men were wounded.

[Pat Atkins]

 

Here's the relevant entry from 2nd Royal Fusiliers' WD (courtesy of TNA); it seems that the remainder of the two companies involved were attached to the Borderers temporarily. Foolish to infer much from War Diaries really, but I can't help but feel that "eventually came to their assistance" is slightly ungracious!

Edited 4 October by Pat Atkins

[michaeldr]

This is the Brigade's WD (WO 95/4311) on these events
“ The 87th Bde landed at X Beach about 9AM. The landing was covered by the Rl Fus, whose orders were to commence disembarking after 6AM. The landing was not opposed … … … Shortly after the bde had landed the covering force was counter attacked and driven back towards the beach. The Rl Fus on landing had pushed too far into the air & become very extended, instead of digging themselves in in a bridgehead round the beach. As the situation appeared critical the Border Regt was ordered up from the beach, they dashed out over the top of the cliff and charged the Turks, who had now closed up to within 500 yds of the beach, with the bayonet with great ilan. The enemy now turned tail and the Border Regt advanced and occupied a line in a semicircle round the beach about 1000yds out to the NE and about 500yds away to the SE. … … … Some scattered remnants of the Rl Fus were still out in front mixed up with the Border Regt”

The sketch below shows X Beach as seen from the sea.   Re the scale; Gully Beach is c.⅝ of a mile from X Beach 
[The sketch is M_012488 on the WFA/IWM Gallipoli Map Disc]

 

 

[Hawkeye28]

Sidney Peacock 1st Battalion Border Regiment, Regimental No. 9954 was one of the other ranks killed that day. Born 19 May 1894, Chelsea, Middlesex. In 1911 he was at the Carlisle Depot of the Regiment.

I appreciate the background to his death that has been provided. 

 

[michaeldr]

The Turkish magazine 'anafarta' (the Spring issue of 2020) had an article by Saban Murat Armutak which looked at this landing. With the help of online translation I gather that the Ottoman force coming up to defend against the landing which had taken place at X Beach was the 7th Company (2nd Battalion, 26th Regiment) commanded by Yüzbasi (Captain) Yusuf Kenan

"The attack of the 7th Company was barely stopped by the forces that had caught up with the repeated calls for help. The 7th Company, which was halted by the counter-attack of the British battalion, took up defence at Kızıltoprak Location. As a result of the battles that continued until the evening and the terrible artillery fire of the ships the company lost more than half of its rank and file and all its officers, including the company commander."

[Any mistakes in translation are mine]

The aerial photo/map below is also from Mr. Armutak's article

Edited 8 October by michaeldr