Gallipoli Association

18/03/2025

"La fin du Bouvet aux Dardanelles": aquarelle de Raymond Houillon

2014 Salons des armées Régional et National.

18/03/2025

Lieutenant-General Sir Aylmer Gould Hunter-Weston KCB DSO GCStJ died 1940

Hunter-Weston was a British Army general who served in World War I at Gallipoli and in the very early stages of the Somme Offensive. He was also a Scottish Unionist MP.

Nicknamed "Hunter-Bunter", Hunter-Weston has been seen as a classic example of a "donkey" general.

He was described by his superior Sir Douglas Haig as a "rank amateur", and has been referred to by one modern writer as "one of the Great War's spectacular incompetents".

However, another historian writes that although his poor performance at the battles of Krithia earned his reputation "as one of the most brutal and incompetent commanders of the First World War. In his later battles (at Gallipoli) he seemed to hit upon a formula for success ...(but) these small achievements were largely forgotten"...

18/03/2025

18/03/2025

The Allied fleet, comprising 18 battleships with an array of cruisers and destroyers began the main attack against the Dardanelles in 1915.

Despite some damage to the Allied ships engaging the forts by Ottoman return fire, minesweepers were ordered along the straits.

In the Ottoman official account, by 2 pm: "all telephone wires were cut, all communications with the forts were interrupted, some of the guns had been knocked out ... in consequence the artillery fire of the defence had slackened considerably".

The French battleship Bouvet struck a mine, capsized and sank within two minutes of striking the underwater device; 639 of the crew of 710 were killed.

The Minesweepers retreated under Ottoman artillery fire, leaving the minefields largely intact.

HMS Irresistible and HMS Inflexible struck mines and Irresistible was sunk, with most of her crew rescued; Inflexible was badly damaged and withdrawn.

There was confusion during the battle about the cause of the damage; some participants blamed torpedoes.

HMS Ocean was sent to rescue Irresistible but was disabled from an artillery shell, struck a mine, and was evacuated before sinking.

The French battleships Suffren and Gaulois sailed through a new line of mines placed secretly by the Ottoman minelayer Nusret ten days before and were also damaged.

The losses forced de Robeck to sound the "general recall" to protect what remained of his force.

During the planning of the campaign, naval losses had been anticipated and mainly obsolete battleships, unfit to face the German fleet, had been sent.

Some of the senior naval officers like the commander of Queen Elizabeth, Commodore Roger Keyes, felt that they had come close to victory, believing that the Ottoman guns had almost run out of ammunition but the views of de Robeck, the First Sea Lord Jackie Fisher and others prevailed.

Allied attempts to force the straits using naval power were terminated, due to the losses and bad weather.

Planning to capture the Turkish defences by land, to open the way for the ships began.

[Image: 'Sinking of the Bouvet', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/sinking-bouvet, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage)]

18/03/2025

Dr Cluny Macpherson CMG FRCS was born in 1879

A physician and the inventor of an early gas mask. At the outset of World War 1, Macpherson was commissioned as a captain and Principal Medical Officer of the newly formed 1st Newfoundland Regiment.

He saw on active service in Belgium, France, Salonika, Gallipoli and in Egypt.

He became an advisor on poisonous gas, which the Allies feared Germany might be ready to use. While in Gallipoli, it is reported he designed the first gas mask.

The Hypo helmet was a chemically treated bag that offered protection against chlorine gas. Worn over the head and tucked in at the neck, it remained in place much more easily than the chemical-saturated gauze padding previously issued to troops.

However, it was cumbersome and stifling, and its chemical treatment irritated soldiers’ skin and eyes.

Dr. Macpherson’s mask design became the basis for the first gas mask issued to the British Army. Protecting soldiers from blindness, burns and internal injury, the gas mask was one of the most important innovations of the First World War.

Gas masks continue to be used by firefighters, soldiers, and manufacturing workers around the world.

Dr. Macpherson returned to Newfoundland in October 1916, after being injured in Egypt. His work was mentioned in despatches twice.

After World War I he served as the president of the St. John's Clinical Society and the Newfoundland Medical Association. He died on 16th November 1966.

[Pic credit - Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador]

18/03/2025

17/03/2025

Admiralty to Vice-Admiral de Robeck in 1915.

Personal and Secret from First Lord.

In entrusting to you with great confidence the command of the Mediterranean Detached Fleet I presume you are in full accord with Admiralty telegram 101 and Admiralty telegram 109 and Vice-Admiral Carden’s answers thereto, and that you consider, after separate and independent judgment, that the immediate operations proposed are wise and practicable.

If not, do not hesitate to say so.

If so, execute them without delay and without further reference at the first favourable opportunity.

Report fully from day to day. Work in closest harmony with General Hamilton. Make any proposals you think fit for the subordinate commands. Wemyss is your second in command.

All good fortune attend you.

[Source: Churchill, Winston S.. The World Crisis: 1915 (Winston S. Churchill World Crisis Collection Book 2)]

17/03/2025

Vice-Admiral de Robeck to Admiralty in 1915, 10.20 a.m.

First Lord of Admiralty. Secret and Personal. 228. From Vice-Admiral de Robeck.

Thank you for your telegram. I am in full agreement with telegrams mentioned.

Operations will proceed to-morrow, weather permitting.

My view is that everything depends on our ability to clear the minefields for forcing the Narrows, and this necessitates silencing the forts during the process of sweeping.

Generals Hamilton and D’Amade and Admiral Wemyss have been on board to-day, and interview entirely satisfactory. And the next day.

[Source: Churchill, Winston S.. The World Crisis: 1915 (Winston S. Churchill World Crisis Collection Book 2)]

17/03/2025

Some men wanted Charles Bean sent home during his time in Egypt. But what he did at Gallipoli turned that around.

How and why I'll discuss in my talk to the Gallipoli Association on 25th March: Gallipoli Through Journalists' Eyes.

Image: 'Sydney Mail' (New South Wales), 21st October 1914.

17/03/2025

Dardanelles 1915: des soldats français posent avec des prisonniers turcs.

Photographie d'un docteur inconnu. Collection Laurent Fourcault que nous remercions.

16/03/2025

Private Hugh Lamont, 24th Battalion from Moe, Victoria.

A farm hand prior to enlistment in 1915, Pte Lamont embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Euripides on 10 May 1915.

He arrived at Gallipoli on 30 August and was promoted to Lance Corporal just prior to the evacuation of the AIF in December.

On 27 May 1916, Lance Corporal Lamont died of injuries in France, aged 25.

Following an inquiry into his death, a board found that he died as a result "of a self inflicted shot wound as the result of a mental aberation, as there is a complete absence of either motive or premeditation".

He is buried at Erquinghem-Lys Churchyard Extension, France.

This portrait was sent by an Australian relative to Hugh's brother, Pte Frederick Harold Lamont, 29th Battalion, who enlisted three months after Hugh and who was reported missing in action on 20 July 1916 at the Battle of Fromelles. Pte Frederick Lamont was officially reported a Prisoner of War three months later and was repatriated to England in December 1918.

(AWM)

16/03/2025

Second Lieutenant Robert Malcolm Watson, Army Pay Corps from Malvern, Victoria.

A 21 year old clerk prior to enlisting in 1915, he embarked for overseas as a Sergeant with the 2nd Reinforcements from Sydney on 10 April 1915 aboard HMAT Argyllshire.

After serving at Gallipoli, he returned to Egypt where he was promoted to Warrant Officer Class 1.

He then went to serve in England and on 1 February 1917 was appointed a 2nd Lt and later promoted to Lieutenant on 1 May 1917.

Lt Watson proceeded to France in January 1918 and was wounded in action on 26 August 1918 while serving with the 1st Machine Gun Company.

He was evacuated to England for medical treatment and returned to Australia arriving on 30 January 1919.

The verso is inscribed "From Yours sincerely R. M. Watson London Feby 1917."

(AWM)

16/03/2025

"fouilles archéologiques - ouvertures de sarcophages à Leonte, mis à jour en creusant des tranchées."

Phographie du docteur Joseph Pigassou du 1er régiment de marche d'Afrique

16/03/2025

Dardanelles 1915, un prisonnier turc est gardé par un soldat anglais vraisemblablement à un poste de secours français (présence de 3 infirmiers reconnaissable à leur brassard).

Photographie d'un docteur inconnu. Merci à Laurent Fourcault pour la transmission de ce très beau document.