Gallipoli & Dardanelles
GOOGLE MAPS – Dardanelles and Gallipoli Peninsula.
The Gallipoli Peninsula is the northern shore of the Dardanelles Straits given access to Istanbul and the Black Sea from the Mediterranean. It was planned that capturing the Straits and Istanbul would take Ottoman Turkey out of the war and secure a sea route to Russia and the Eastern Front.
The Gallipoli campaign was fought between March 1915 and January 1916. On 18 March by the British and French navies tired to force the Straits. The attempt failed. Turkish mines and shore batteries sank 3 battleships with over 1000 KIA. Turkish casualties were about 150.
The task was given to the Armies to capture the Peninsula and thus secure the Straits. Landings took place on 25 April. British and French landed in the south of the Peninsula at Cape Helles: Australian and New Zealand forces landed further north at Anzac Cove. Beachheads were secured but at a high cost in casualties.
The advance inland met strong resistance, particularly at the village of Krithia and by the end of June had stalled. A second set of landings and a renewed offensive began on 6 August. This time the British landed at Suvla Bay with the objective to link with ANZAC forces. However, the ANZACs failed to break out and the British were driven back and stalemate was resumed. No further offensives took place and by January 1916 all troops had been evacuated.
The Gallipoli campaign was a failure due to many reasons. The terrain was rugged and barren with many ravines and ridges easier to defend than attack. Conditions for the troops were very bad with disease and illness and keeping the troops supplied, especially with water, was difficult. Also, there was unexpected strong Turkish resistance .
Oswestry Men on the Gates were involved in the following actions:
Second Battle of Krithia. 1 Bn Lancashire Fusiliers. 28 April–8 May 1915.
Monash Gully. 1 Bn Australian Light Horse. May 1915
13 Division. Royal Engineers, Signals. July 1915
Battle of Krithia Vineyard. 1/6 Bn and 1/7 Bn Manchester Regiment. 7 Aug 1915.
Suvla Bay. 1/1Bn. Herefordshire Regiment. 9-21 August 1915.
Suvla Bay. Chocolate Hill. 1/7 Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 10 August 1915.
Damakjelik Bair. 4 Bn South Wales Borderers. August 1915
War at Sea
Hired Military Transport (HMT) Royal Edward. 13 August 1915
Dardanelles. HM Submarine E14. 28 January 1918
B&O 1915 Gallipoli.
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