The Children's Story of the War Volume 4 (of 10): The Story of the Year 1915Parrott, Edward
History
The Children's Story of the War Volume 4 (of 10): The Story of the Year 1915
Parrott, Edward
World War, 1914-1918 -- Juvenile literature
Now we must hurry southwards and see how matters are faring at Beach Y.
Three cruisers--_Dublin_, _Amethyst_, and _Sapphire_--have covered the
landing of the 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers and the
Plymouth (Marine) Battalion. The men have leaped ashore on a narrow
strip of sand at the foot of a crumbling, scrub-covered cliff 200 feet
high. They climb to the top of the cliffs by means of a number of small
gullies, and there establish themselves, almost without loss. Food,
water, and ammunition are hauled up. Now the Turks begin to attack them,
and are fiercely resisted. Later in the day the enemy, largely
reinforced, advances from the direction of Krithia, and our men have to
dig in. Against them the Turks launch attack after attack, supported by
heavy guns. Owing to the sharp fall of the ground behind the cliffs, our
warships can render but little assistance. Through the afternoon and
night the attacks continue, and our men make several desperate bayonet
charges. But it is clear, even now, that they cannot maintain themselves
in this position. By seven o'clock on the morning of the 26th the King's
Own Scottish Borderers have lost half their number, including their
gallant colonel.
The order for withdrawal is given. A small rearguard of the King's Own
Scottish Borderers with desperate valour holds off the enemy, while the
rest, with their wounded, stores, and ammunition, re-embark, and are
safely brought round to the southern end of the peninsula. The landing
at Y has failed, and our losses have been very heavy; but the plucky
stand of the two battalions has prevented large numbers of the enemy
from going to the assistance of their comrades at other points, where,
as you will soon learn, a very touch-and-go struggle is in progress.
* * * * *
A short journey southward brings us to Beach X, where the 1st Royal
Fusiliers have been landed. The _Swiftsure_ has plastered the high
ground with shells, and the _Implacable_, which has anchored close
inshore, is bringing every gun to bear on the Turkish position. Without
losing a single man, the Fusiliers push up a low cliff and entrench
themselves. By evening they are in touch with their comrades at Beach W.
A Turkish battery which gets the range of our men is knocked out by a
fine shot from the _Implacable_. At Beach X everything is going well.
* * * * *
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.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account