Sir Ian Hamilton's Despatches from the Dardanelles, etc.Hamilton, Ian
History
Sir Ian Hamilton's Despatches from the Dardanelles, etc.
Hamilton, Ian
World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Turkey -- Gallipoli Peninsula
On the extreme left the 87th Brigade, under Major-General W. R.
Marshall, made a final and especially gallant effort to advance across
the smooth, bullet-swept area between the ravine and the sea, but once
more the enemy machine-guns thinned the ranks of the leading companies
of the South Wales Borderers, and again there was nothing for it but to
give ground. But when night closed in the men of the 87th Brigade of
their own accord asked to be led forward, and achieved progress to the
extent of just about 200 yards. During the darkness the British troops
everywhere entrenched themselves on the line gained.
On the right the French column, last seen as it grew dark, had stormed
and still held the redoubt round which the fighting had centred until
then. Both General d'Amade and General Simonin had been present
in person with this detachment and had rallied the Senegalese and
encouraged the white troops in their exploit. With their bayonets these
brave fellows of the 8th Colonials had inflicted exceedingly heavy
losses upon the enemy.
ZOUAVES FORCED TO GIVE WAY
The French troops whose actions have hitherto been followed belonged,
all of them, to the 2nd Division. But beyond the crest of the ridge
the valley of the Kereves Dere lies dead to anyone occupying my post
of command. And in this area the newly-arrived Brigade of the French
1st Division had been also fighting hard. Here they had advanced
simultaneously with the 2nd Division and achieved a fine success in
their first rush, which was jeopardized when a battalion of Zouaves was
forced to give way under a heavy bombardment. But, as in the case of
the 2nd Division, the other battalions of the 1st Régiment de Marche
d'Afrique, under Lieutenant-Colonel Nieger, restored the situation, and
in the end the Division carried and held two complete lines of Turkish
redoubts and trenches.
The net result of the three days' fighting had been a gain of 600 yards
on the right of the British line and 400 yards on the left and centre.
The French had captured all the ground in front of the Farm Zjimmerman,
as well as a redoubt, for the possession of which there had been
obstinate fighting during the whole of the past three days.
This may not seem very much, but actually more had been won than at
first meets the eye. The German leaders of the Turks were quick to
realize the fact. From nightfall till dawn on the 9th-10th efforts were
made everywhere to push us back. A specially heavy attack was made upon
the French, supported by a hot cannonade and culminating in a violent
hand-to-hand conflict in front of the Brigade Simonin. Everywhere the
assailants were repulsed, and now for the first time I felt that we
had planted a fairly firm foothold upon the point of the Gallipoli
Peninsula.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account