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Born-Clerkenwell

Gallipoli 1915

On 25 April, 1915, British, Australian and New Zealand forces landed on the Gallipoli peninsula. The plan was that these forces would soon defeat a demoralised Turkish army, knock Turkey out of the war, open up the Mediterranean to the Russian navy and threaten Austro-Hungary from the south.None of these things were achieved despite nine months of hard fighting in terrible conditions. It was a heroic failure.

The 29^th Division and the Royal Naval Division landed at five separate beaches around Cape Helles.  Some were not defended, others were fiercely contested. Some ground was gained but within days the familiar pattern of trench warfare had set in. A similar pattern emerged further north where the ANZACS landed. The Turkish soldiers were much tougher fighters than had been given credit for and they were of course fighting an invasion of their homeland. The terrain, a series of steep rocky ridges and deep gullies made the fighting much more difficult and during the hot summer of 1915, the flies arrived in biblical proportions. Another seven British divisions were sent to Gallipoli during the summer but little or no progress was made. In the end, a new Commander was appointed and plans to evacuate the entire force were drawn up. By January 1916, all British, Australian and New Zealand forces had left Gallipoli, leaving only behind the dead, over 56,000 of them.

During the night of 1st-2nd May, the Turks launched the first of their night attacks with dense masses attacking the Allied line. That part of the line astride Kirte Dere was manned by a much weakened force of 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers and 1st Dublin Fusiliers who were overwhelmed and driven from their trenches. A company of 2nd Royal Fusiliers counter attacked and regained the lost ground whilst men from 5th Royal Scots drove back those of the enemy who had penetrated the British positions. On this occasion the Turks had concentrated more of their attacks on the French line and first the Howe Battalion of the Royal Naval Division was sent to their assistance to be followed by the Anson Battalion. The Turks lost heavily during this attack and in the morning of 2nd May, the Allies launched a counter attack, but with little artillery support only a few gains were made and as Turkish resistance stiffened, the men of 29th Division, including the 1st Border battalion of 87 Brigade, fell back to the line of the day before. One of the battalion’s casualties during this action was Charles Ellicock.