Showing posts with label 53rd Division. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 53rd Division. Show all posts

Thursday, 13 August 2015

Defeatism at Gallipoli



Friday 13th August : The adjutant of the 1st/5th Bedfords tells us that they made no attack last night. In the event only 163rd Brigade of 54th Division took part, along with 53rd (Welsh) Division. The attack was unsuccessful and stragglers returning to camp during the night who said Brigades had been wiped out. Fortunately, this has proved untrue(1). The enemy are currently shelling the bay and the camp without doing any damage – the troops having entrenched in case of renewed shelling.

Source: X550/6/8


(1) The attacks on Kavak Tepe and Tekke Tepe after crossing the Anafarta Plain were a failure and prompted consideration of evacuating Suvla Bay. It was this attack in which “Sandringham Company” as it was known, of 1st/5th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, having been largely recruited from the royal estate, was reported to have disappeared in a cloud over the battlefield. It was later discovered that many of the men had been killed and others captured.

Tuesday, 11 August 2015

Landings at Suvla Bay


Wednesday 11th August: We understand that the 1st/5th Bedfords have landed this morning at Suvla Bay on the Gallipoli peninsula and will shortly begin disembarkation. German aeroplanes dropped bombs on shipping but hit nothing.

Initial landings in this bay took place on 6th August against negligible opposition, the idea being to drive in-land and link-up with the Australians and New Zealanders five miles to the south. The force here, IX Corps, is under Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Stopford. As well as 54th (East Anglian) Division, in which the Bedfords find themselves, it comprises 10th (Irish), 11th (Northern), 13th (Western), 53rd (Welsh) and 2nd Mounted Divisions. It appears that there was some confusion at first and that the beach is congested and progress inland slow, but hopefully things will soon sort themselves out(1)

Source: X550/6/8


(1) In fact Stopford so badly handled the landing and subsequent lethargic advance that he was sacked on 15th August and another potentially promising move in the campaign ground into bloody stalemate.