1st May 1915

[michaeldr]

Helles

“Saturday, 1 May: In second line trench, so tension relieved a bit. No use trying top sleep as we could not get shelter from the sun. Went down top the river for a wash. Really the first wash we have had. Discovered our sheets were inhabited. Fared quite decently to-day. Got rum, tobacco, and bacon served out. Kemp still acting cook. Established his kitchen in a niche in the river bank. Found a French Dixie which held quite a lot of water. Made tea and fried bacon in a biscuit-tin lid. Had the best dinner we’ve had yet. Everyone enjoyed himself immensely. Spent afternoon digging a big hole to hide machine gun in, as Turkish aeroplanes were buzzing over-head. Watched our artillery firing shrapnel at them. Settled down to sleep.

Soon aroused by great commotion. Turks had broken through Munsters and were right on top of us. Our guns still buried in hole so had no time to mount them, therefore seized rifles and bayonets and charged them. 5th R.S. made great charge and drove enemy right back. Bayoneted my first and hope my last Turk. Drove Turks right back amongst the Munsters again and a terrible fight took place. Turks fought stubbornly but were caught between two lines and dropped in hundreds. Monty Smith, Capt. Russell, Capt. Lindsay and Lieut. Kemp all killed during this fray. Kept driving the Turks back. Gun teams then sent back for guns. Came back with them at the double, and mounted them in our new firing line. Battle lasted till eleven in the forenoon – exactly twelve hours. A great many Turkish prisoners taken. One came out from behind a bush with his hands up and surrendered to me. Sight of me going through a six-foot Turk’s pockets in search of fire-arms proved very amusing to rest of Gun team.”

from the ‘Diary of John F. Goate, Machine Gun Section, 5th Royal Scots, 29th Division’ [discovered after his death in 1946, by his daughter Ms Dorothy Goate] as reproduced in ‘The Gallipolian’ issue No.91, Winter 1999

[christine liava'a]

Dead Man's Ridge

By May 1 a stalemate had arisen at Anzac. By now the Anzacs were well dug in around the perimeter, General Birdwood's Corps had suffered about 7, 500 casualties and 2 brigades from the Royal Naval Division, each of 2 battalions, had come ashore to reinforce Bridge's Australian Division.

Turkish pressure at Anzac had slackened over the last couple of days since the fierce fighting on the 27th April. It was rthought that theTurks were reinforcing the front at Helles with troops and artillery taken from around Anzac. They were also digging in to counter any break-out by the Anzacs.

So, to maintain pressure on the Turks, an attack at Anzac was needed. Baby 700 was seen as the key to the Anzac predicament. This would take the pressure off yhe cramped situation at Anzac and putthe Allies on the offensive again.

Russel's top overlooked the forks at the head of Monash Gully. The ridge between the first 2 forks was Pope's Hill where Australians held on to about 100 yards of the crest in a staggered trench line crossing the ridge from side to side. The next ridge further to the south was Dead Man's Ridge, loaded with Turkish snipers. Beyond the next fork was Quinn's Post on "Second ridge", manned by the the 15th Australian Battalion under Major Quinn. At Quinn's Post the Australians only held about 5 yards of ground beyond the crestline. Behind them was the sheer clay face that fell away into Monash Gully.

Both the Anzacs and the Turks were aware of the precarious situation on Quinn's. If the beachhead was to survive then Quinn's must be held. Birdwood gave Godley the task of resolving the position beyond Quinn's, since his NZ and Australian Division held the head of Monash Gully. Birdwood said " take Baby 700". It would be Godley's first operation on Gallipoli with his division.

Bloody Gallipoli; Richard Stowers