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
Meanwhile, on the right of the line, the gains of the morning were
being compromised. A very heavy counter-attack had developed against
the "Haricot." The Turks poured in masses of men through prepared
communication trenches, and, under cover of accurate shell fire, were
able to recapture that redoubt. The French, forced to fall back,
uncovered in doing so the right flank of the Royal Naval Division.
Shortly before 1 p.m. the right of the 2nd Naval Brigade had to retire
with very heavy loss from the redoubt they had captured, thus exposing
in their turn the "Howe" and "Hood" Battalions to enfilade, so that
they, too, had nothing for it but to retreat across the open under
exceedingly heavy machine-gun and musketry fire.
By 1.30 p.m. the whole of the captured trenches in this section had
been lost again, and the Brigade was back in its original position, the
"Collingwood" Battalion, which had gone forward in support, having been
practically destroyed.
MANCHESTER'S HEAVY LOSSES
The question was now whether this rolling up of the newly captured line
from the right would continue until the whole of our gains were wiped
out. It looked very like it, for now the enfilade fire of the Turks
began to fall upon the Manchester Brigade of the 42nd Division, which
was firmly consolidating the furthest distant line of trenches it had
so brilliantly won. After 1.30 p.m. it became increasingly difficult
for this gallant Brigade to hold its ground. Heavy casualties occurred;
the Brigadier and many other officers were wounded or killed; yet it
continued to hold out with the greatest tenacity and grit. Every effort
was made to sustain the Brigade in its position. Its right flank was
thrown back to make face against the enfilade fire and reinforcements
were sent to try to fill the diagonal gap between it and the Royal
Naval Division. But ere long it became clear that unless the right of
our line could advance again it would be impossible for the Manchesters
to maintain the very pronounced salient in which they now found
themselves.
Orders were issued, therefore, that the Royal Naval Division should
co-operate with the French Corps in a fresh attack, and reinforcements
were despatched to this end. The attack, timed for 3 p.m., was twice
postponed at the request of General Gouraud, who finally reported
that he would be unable to advance again that day with any prospect
of success. By 6.30 p.m., therefore, the 42nd Division had to be
extricated with loss from the second line Turkish trenches, and had to
content themselves with consolidating on the first line, which they had
captured within five minutes of commencing the attack. Such was the
spirit displayed by this Brigade that there was great difficulty in
persuading the men to fall back. Had their flanks been covered nothing
would have made them loosen their grip.
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