Pte. R.H. Wainwright, Warwickshire Yeomanry

[michaeldr]

From the CWGC:

WAINWRIGHT, RICHARD HUMPHREY

Initials: R H

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment: Warwickshire Yeomanry

Age: 31

Date of Death: 17/09/1915

Service No: 2222

Additional information: Son of Thomas Groves Wainwright and Arm Wainwright, of Ackleton, Wolverhampton.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: I. C. 11.

Cemetery: GREEN HILL CEMETERY

Country: Turkey

Location Information: Green Hill and Chocolate Hill (which form together Yilghin Burnu) are adjoining hills, about 52 metres above sea level, which rise almost from the eastern shore of the Salt Lake. The cemetery lies on the east side of the Anzac-Suvla Road and can be seen from Suvla and from Anzac.

Historical Information: The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea. The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac. On 6 August, further troops were put ashore at Suvla, just north of Anzac, and the climax of the campaign came in early August when simultaneous assaults were launched on all three fronts. The aim of the Suvla force had been to quickly secure the sparsely held high ground surrounding the bay and salt lake, but confused landings and indecision caused fatal delays allowing the Turks to reinforce and only a few of the objectives were taken with difficulty. Green Hill and Chocolate Hill (which form together Yilghin Burnu), rise from the eastern shore of the salt lake. They were captured on 7 August 1915 by the 6th Lincolns and the 6th Border Regiment but once taken, no further advance was then made. On the two following days, unsuccessful efforts were made to push on along the ridge of 'W' Hill (Ismail Oglu Tepe), leading to Anafarta Sagir and on 21 August, the attack of the 11th and 29th Divisions and the 2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade to take Scimitar Hill, although pressed with great resolution, left the front line where it had been. Green Hill Cemetery was made after the Armistice when isolated graves were brought in from the battlefields of August 1915 and from small burial grounds in the surrounding area. Among these was the cemetery at Scimitar Hill, containing 520 graves, almost all unidentified. There are now 2,971 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 2,472 of the burials are unidentified but special memorials commemorate a number of casualties known or believed to be buried among them.

No. of Identified Casualties: 499

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From Ray Westlake’s ‘British Regiments at Gallipoli’ published by Leo Cooper, 1996

“1/1st Warwickshire Yeomanry

September (1915)

Due to casualties and sickness reorganised (with 1/1st Gloucestershire and 1/1st Worcestershire Yeomanries) as 1st South Midland Regiment, 1st Composite Mounted Brigade (4th Sept 1915). To forward areas – Cater’s House sector. Carried out tours in firing and support lines, exchanging with 1/1st Gloucestershire Yeomanry. The Hon. H. A. Adderley records a heavy reduction in strength due to sickness. Of the 308 men that landed in August, just 41 of these remained fit for duty. Relieved and to reserves at Salt Lake Line (25th Sep 1915).”

The 1/1st Warwicks embarked for Mudros on 31st October 1915

Per Westlake again – “15 other ranks killed; 2 officers and 92 other ranks wounded.” Richard Humphrey Wainwright was one of the fifteen