An Official Version of the Third Battle of Krithia

Further details of the Third Battle of Krithia were printed on 30th June 1915, including the telling remark that, “ their machine guns on the right were gradually thinning the British ranks.”

“BRITISH GALLANTRY.

“DARING ADVANCE ON TURKS’ STRONGHOLD.

“Reuter's correspondent at Cairo says:

“Further details of the gallant British attack of June 4th and 5th on the Turkish positions at Knthia and near Achi Baba have been received.

“As the men advanced from the first line of trenches about 12 o'clock they were met by murderous fire from machine guns to the left. Men fell quickly, but others pushed on with great courage, the soldiers leaving the second, third and fourth lines of trenches at the appointed times.

“If any particular unit can be singled out for special mention it is the Worcester Regiment, which suffered heavily, but carried all before it. It was a fight against machine guns. The Turks fled at the sight our men but their machine guns on the right were gradually thinning the British ranks. An officer said if a tennis ball had been thrown into the air it would have been riddled with bullets. But the men went dauntlessly on.

“Meantime, the Turks were bringing up reinforcements from behind Achi Baba. So well have the Turkish positions been prepared that they can reach the firing line under perfect cover for two or three miles. Troops are kept resting behind the hill of Achi Baba, brought forward in any emergency, and those in front of the hill are perfectly sheltered from our shrapnel. Thus the Turks have all the advantages of position; while they outnumber our men three to one.

“Any advance, however small, under such circumstances may be considered a meritorious performance by our troops, and the gain of 500 yards on June 4th and 5th was distinctly good. Our men, in spite of heavy losses, went pushing on until they had taken possession of no fewer than five of the enemy’s trenches, and they had him completely on the run.

“The Essex Regiment and the East Lancs. Territorials were in better country and not exposed to the enfilading fire of the Turks, and they clung to their positions. The centre was finding its position getting precarious, a retirement was ordered, and it established itself in the second line of the trenches wrested from the Turks. The East Lancs. then retired, and were soon after followed by the Essex Regiment. The left flank meanwhile had also fallen back.

“Then followed counter-attacks by the enemy which were easily repulsed, as his attacks always will be, because in any close or hand-to-hand fighting the Turk is no match for the Briton. Our losses are bound to be heavy in such an enormous undertaking; but the moral effect of our victory, when it does come, will be almost incalculable. There is only one way of taking Achi Baba, and that at the the point of the bayonet.

“The Turks do not appear to be very short of ammunition. They still continue to indulge in nocturnal rifle fire from nine till midnight, and they expend great quantities of shrapnel daily, but many of the shells only contain sand or sawdust.”

'Nottingham Evening Post', 30th June 1915.

Image: Imperial War Museum, Q 69515.