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By coincidence the first Gallipoli medals / memorial plaques I acquired belong to men who died on consecutive days, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th August 1915. Today I will share the story of Victor Walter Hayden who died on this day 105 years ago below Scimitar Hill, Suvla Bay.
Victor served with the 6th battalion Lincolnshire Regiment and together with the 6th Borders and 7th South Staffordshire’s attacked towards Ismail Oglu Tepe. Scimitar Hill overlooked their area of advance and was erroneously believed to be held by British soldiers.
They advanced at 05:15 hours immediately coming under fire from Scimitar Hill causing heavy casualties. To add to the hell the scrub caught fire and the troops were forced to retire. An act of great bravery now happened. Capt. P. H. Hanson of the 6th Lincs. gained his V.C.
Hanson with volunteers & under fire ventured into the burning scrub to recover the wounded. Two D.C.M’s were also awarded to those who helped. Casualties amounted to 8 officers killed and 4 wounded and 391 OR’s killed, wounded or missing. None of the missing were ever seen again.
Many of the wounded were burned alive. “When the fire passed on little mounds of scorched khaki alone marked the spot where another mismanaged soldier of the king had returned to Mother Earth.” So wrote Ashmead- Bartlett....
Scimitar Hill was never successfully taken and held despite repeated efforts and severe fighting. It dominates the plain below. Victor was one of the missing ad he is commemorated on the Hellas Memorial. One of the mismanaged? Image of Scimitar Hill today.
Tomorrow I shall tell of the fourth man and the tragedy that befell his battalion and saw all hope of success for the British dashed and a Turkish victory. An Empire crushed through its contempt of an enemy woefully under estimated and a legend born.
