The New Zealanders at Gallipoli
[section]
[Lent by Captain Janson, W.M.R.
At the foot of the Chailak Dere.
Officers and men of the Wellington Mounted Rifles going out to Hill 60.
Sir Ian Hamilton decided to make another effort with a regrouping of the troops at his disposal.
page 246The only new troops he could call on were the 2nd Mounted Division, a body of British Yeomanry who had been doing garrison duty in Egypt. They were composed of young men who had served in the volunteer mounted service before the war and correspond to our New Zealand regiments of Mounted Rifles. They totalled about 5000 men, and were organized in four brigades (the 1st South Midland, the 2nd South Midland, the North Midland, and the London.)
The 29th Division, who since their desperate landing, had borne the brunt of the fighting at Cape Helles, were moved from there to stiffen the New Army division, which were dug in along the Suvla Flats.
By the night of August 20/21, all was ready for the projected attack. This was to consist of two preliminary movements.
(1) |
The 29th Division was to move from Chocolate Hills against Scimitar Hill. Everywhere along the line the other units were to take the offensive to hold the enemy's reserves in check. The 13th Division was to attack at 3.15 p.m. The 34th Brigade was to attack on the plain near Hetman Chair. Next to it the 32nd Brigade was to get possession of a trench running from Hetman Chair towards “W” Hills. |
(2) |
The Anzac troops from Damakjelik Bair were to attack Kaiajik Aghala (Hill 60) and swing their left round to junction with the Suvla forces. |
A reference to the map will show that when these two points—Scimitar Hill and Kaiajik Aghala—were taken the way would be clear for a converging combined assault on Ismail Oglu Tepe, the well known “W” Hills of Anzac. From it in a north-westerly direction ran the long spur on which—some 2700 yards away—was situated the village of Biyuk Anafarta. A similar distance away, but to the south-west, lay Kuchuk Anafarta. The occupation of Ismail Oglu Tepe would not only give us possession of the valleys running up to both these villages, but would also give us uninterrupted intercourse between Anzac and Suvla, now continually under the fire of the guns on “W” Hills. The wells in the neighbourhood were also valuable to whichever side held them.
page 247
Sketch Map to Illustrate the Battles for Scimitar Hill and Hill 60.
“Kuyu” is the Turkish name for well. There were many valuable wells between Kaiajik Aghala and the sea.