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105 Years Ago The Warwickshire Yeomanry at Gallipoli – Part 4
The plan for the 21st August was to attack Scimitar Hill with 29th Division and the W Hills with the 11th Division, the 2nd Mounted Division were initially held in reserve near Suvla Beach.
The plan for the 21st August was to attack Scimitar Hill with 29th Division and the W Hills with the 11th Division, the 2nd Mounted Division were initially held in reserve near Suvla Beach.
The British artillery were unable to see their targets which were obscured by mist and smoke, unlike the Turkish artillery who had a clear view of the entire Suvla battlefield and ample opportunity to register their targets.
The attack on W Hills collapsed in confusion as a result of heavy Turkish machine gun and artillery fire.
The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers captured the summit of Scimitar Hill but the failure of the attack on W Hills left them exposed to fire from the Turks still in control of the hills.
As the Irish retreated the undergrowth around them was set ablaze by shell fire, many of the wounded being burned to death. Around 5pm the 2nd Mounted Division advanced across the bed of the dry Salt Lake -
- the air was full of mist and smoke and they suffered heavily from the shrapnel of the Turkish artillery. Under this intense fire most of the Yeomanry Brigade sheltered in the lea of Green Hill, west of Scimitar Hill.
After half an hour’s rest the Yeomanry Brigade charged over Green Hill and captured the Turkish trenches on the summit of Scimitar Hill. By now darkness had set in and the order was given to retire,
, it being considered impossible to hold the hill during daylight and so the Brigade returned that night to Lala Baba.
In one days fighting the British suffered 5,300 casualties,
In one days fighting the British suffered 5,300 casualties,
effectively one third of the soldiers involved. The 1/1st Warwickshire Yeomanry lost 73 men, mostly wounded. Six were killed on the 21st August.
On the night of the 22nd August 1915 the Yeomanry Brigade returned to Chocolate Hill
On the night of the 22nd August 1915 the Yeomanry Brigade returned to Chocolate Hill
and dug in on the side of Hill 70 and there they remained in the reserve line, honeycombed with dug outs. The 1/1st Warwickshire Yeomanry occupied a position in close proximity to a battery of artillery which drew enemy fire. On the 26th the Turks positioned a gun on the left
, from which they were able to enfilade the dug outs.
The Brigade remained in the reserve line until 4th September, with little to relieve the monotony of life in the dug outs, suffering from snipers and stray shells which were continually adding to the casualty list;
The Brigade remained in the reserve line until 4th September, with little to relieve the monotony of life in the dug outs, suffering from snipers and stray shells which were continually adding to the casualty list;
; while wastage through sickness became serious. See image of unidentified Warwickshire Yeomen and dug outs on the reverse slope of Hill 70.
On the night of the 4th September the whole Division were ordered up into the firing line to occupy trenches vacated by the
On the night of the 4th September the whole Division were ordered up into the firing line to occupy trenches vacated by the
Munster Fusiliers. The Turkish Trenches were only 400 yards in front and sniping was incessant. The Regiment remained there for the next three weeks improving their trenches by day and providing guard duties at night; during which no general attack was made by either side.
On 26th September the Yeomanry Brigade were moved back to the reserve trenches vacated by the London Yeomanry, situated about 1,200 yards from the enemy front line on the edge of the Salt Lake, north of the track from Lala Baba to the front line
and in full view of the enemy’s observation posts on the height dominating the Suvla Plain. Fortunately the enemy was short of ammunition or casualties would have been heavy.
Part 5 will follow later this weekend
Philip Wilson, Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum Trustee and Archivist http://www.warwickshire-yeomanry-museum.co.uk
Philip Wilson, Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum Trustee and Archivist http://www.warwickshire-yeomanry-museum.co.uk
